Tasmanian Aboriginal people

Introduction

The State Library and Archives of Tasmania provides a wide range of records and resources on Tasmania’s history. These collections help people to investigate many areas of interest, including family history and social, cultural, and community research. We offer access to documents, publications, and archival materials through our services. These research tools can assist in understanding Tasmania’s past and Tasmanian Aboriginal people. 

What’s available online?

• Online library resources about Tasmanian Aboriginal people, including some images
• Aboriginal establishment, Oyster Cove, reports made by the visiting Magistrate, Surgeon and Chaplain when making calls to the establishment, 1855 – 1869 (CSO89)
• Correspondence concerning the administration of Cape Barren Island (LSD51)
• The register of children admitted to the Orphan School (SWD28) and applications to the Orphan School (SWD26) has references to Aboriginal children
• 1830-1833 Minutes of the Committee for the Care and Treatment of Captured Aborigines (CBE1)
• Documenting Tasmanian Aboriginal descent

What else is available?

Records of government administration with a focus on Aboriginal matters

Tasmania did not have an agency with specific responsibility for Tasmanian Aboriginal people between 1833 and the 1970s.

• Committee for the Care and Treatment of Aborigines 1830 -1833 (TA261)
• Office of Aboriginal Affairs, By 1989 (TA1557)
• Office of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs 1982 -1985 (TA393)
• Office of the Minister assisting the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs 1989 – 1992 (TA1427)
• Aboriginal Affairs Study Group Apr 1977 (TA307)
• Tasmanian Aboriginal Research Trust 1979 – 1985 (TA327)

Some specific series of records relating to Aboriginal matters

• File 7578 is a large file (one metre of records) “relating to the Aboriginals” within the general files of the Colonial Secretary’s Office. It was created during Governor Arthur’s administration. Further files are identified in the various indexes to these files 1824 – 1836 (CSO1/316 – 332)
• Copy of an itinerary of Lieutenant Governor Arthur during the campaign against the Aborigines (1830) (CSO66)
• Bonwick transcripts – examination paper given to children on Flinders (AB694/1 p600)
• Records of the Cape Barren school 1898 – 1971 (TA1136) This is a file within the Premier’s Department about Cape Barren Island. It has correspondence between the Islanders and the Government plus returns of people in the Reserve and the Furneaux group (PD1/237) see file 108 for 1911
• Lands Department: Applications to occupy agricultural blocks under the Cape 1912, 1913 – 1945 (LSD187) (Alphabetical register see LSD189)
• Lands Department: Applications to occupy homestead blocks under the Cape 1913 – 1945 (LSD188) (Alphabetical register see LSD189)
• Flinders Police – Record of occurrences and daily activities 1917 – 1973 (with some gaps) (POL205)
• Flinders Police – General correspondence – Cape Barren Island 1955 – 1959 (POL203)
• Records of the Director of Public Prosecutions representing Tasmania before the Commonwealth Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody 1986 – 1989 (AD771)

General government administration records

Records from agencies providing a service to the whole Tasmanian community will include some records relating to Aboriginal people. For example:

• General correspondence files of the former Lands Department has files on Cape Barren Island (LSD1)
• Case files and administrative records of the former Department of Social Services can have relevant information on Cape Barren Island and individuals. They will not usually be identified as Aboriginal people. See for example:
  • Correspondence on the custody and welfare of children (SWD1)
  • General welfare case files (AA226)
  • Correspondence files (AD203)
  • Correspondence files of the Deputy Director (AD245)
• The administrative files of the former Health Department has files on services such as bush nursing on the Islands
  • General correspondence files (HSD5)
  • General correspondence – hospital and health administration (HSD6)
• The administrative records of the Education Department and schools have information on all children who attended school. They will not be identified as Aboriginal
• Records created by the courts & prisons, police, and hospitals may be relevant. They will not indicate that a person is Aboriginal.

What other resources might be useful?

Library resources on the history of Tasmanian Aboriginal people. Try particularly:

• Bill Mollison’s books on Tasmanian Aboriginal genealogy (though note they are dated and sometimes based on anecdotal evidence)
• The Briggs family history report by Helen Anderson
• Books by Lyndall Ryan especially Tasmanian Aborigines : a history since 1803 (2012)
• Studies in the history of Aboriginal Tasmania series
• Indigenous Rights Edited by Justin Healey (2014)
• Recognising Aboriginal title : the Mabo case and indigenous resistance to English-settler colonialism by Peter H. Russell (2006)
• The original Australians : story of the Aboriginal people by Josephine Flood (2006)

There are very few records from before 1824. For this period, try:

• published sources such as the books by Dr Brian Plomley
• early newspapers will also provide some information.

For records post 1824: the Colonial Secretary’s Office later Chief Secretary’s Department. The earlier records of the Premiers Office can be useful.

What can I find from other organisations?

Aboriginal Affairs within the Department of Premier and Cabinet