Reports on Aboriginal People on Western Australian stations 1899-1902
| Please be aware that the reports include the names of deceased people and descriptions which may be culturally sensitive |
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The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. LAWLERS. - There were very few natives about Lawlers during my visit, and none on relief. I only saw 10 natives, six women and four men; no children. All were in good condition and apparently will, with the exception of one woman who had been badly burnt a few days previous to my seeing her. I obtained some carron oil and took it out to the camp the following morning, but found all the natives had left; later on I saw some of them in the town and left the oil with one of them, with instructions as to its use. Some of these natives do odd jobs about the town and appear to get any amount of food. I believe there are never very many natives about, 20 or 30 at the most. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Lake Darlot, 26th October, 1901. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. LAKE DARLOT. - On arrival at Lake Darlot I was informed there were about twenty (20) natives in and around the township and camps, and after hunting about for a day or two succeeded in finding their camp., seeing most of them there. There were twelve (12) men, 18 to 60, fourteen (14) women, 18 to 60, and one child (female) 4 years. The majority of these natives were in good condition, and evidently obtained plenty of food somewhere. From information supplied in the township it appears the men do little or nothing; occasionally one or two may do odd jobs for a few days, but never remain long; the younger women hang about the camps and town doing a little legitimate work, but more often living by prostitution. I had some difficulty in getting any of these natives to visit my camp for the purpose of being attended to. Some of the women were very bad. At this place and Lawlers the absence of children is very striking. I think there can be little doubt the constant prostitution keeps down the birth rate, and even when children are born they are killed on arrival, the mothers not caring to be hampered with children. I would suggest that a supply of 20 or 30 blankets be sent to the Warden, at Lawlers, for distribution to the natives in and around Lake Darlot before next winter ; the weather is bitterly cold in these parts during the winter months. The death of an aged native (man) occurred during the time I was at Lake Darlot. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Seven-Mile Well, near Laverton, 10th October, 1901. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. ERLISTOUN. - There were very few natives at the Erlistoun when I passed through on my way to Laverton. I only saw 10 altogether—one man (General), 40 ; one man, 22 ; one man, 18 ; four women, 14 to 30 ; two boys, 10 and seven ; one young child. Three of the above natives were seen at the townsite, and were employed by the publican, Reid. On my arrival at the townsite, I was informed there were some natives at a camp close by, but only found one there. General by name, who told me he had been shot by a white man. I inquired into this affair and eventually took action, but through want of evidence the case was dismissed, as will have seen from my full report on the case. There appears to have been another native shot in the neighbourhood not very long ago but he had gone away back, and was not to be got at. There are also one or two other men living with native women in this district. It appears strange that the Laverton Police know absolutely nothing about these shooting affairs, although they took place four weeks before my visit. I would suggest that the district be regularly patrolled from Laverton. The butcher, Mr. Cox, employed the two boys, 10 and seven, and a couple of women. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Niagara, 7th December, 1901. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. LAVERTON. - At Laverton I struck a big mob of natives, certainly the most imprudent and degraded lot I have yet come across; they appear to have been utterly spoilt by the whites, and are now absolutely useless; they mostly hang about the town during the greater part of the day, obtaining tucker for which they do very little work of any kind; the women do a little now and again, but not much. I found two cases of venereal disease amongst the women and treated them; no doubt there were others, but it is a very hard matter to get them to own up. Mr. Robinson, J.P., informed me he had on more than one occasion given medicine to the natives, not knowing where to obtain any; as he appeared anxious to do anything he could for the race generally. I requested you to send him a supply and was able to leave him a little to go on with. The natives seen numbered about 60; they were all in good condition, fat and sleek, with the exception of the two that were sick. Their ages ranged from 11 to 56. I did not see any old ones amongst this lot. They appear to come from all around and seldom remain in one place long, but are continually cruising about from one town to another, and appear to do no hunting at all, existing on what they can gather to do no hunting at all, existing on what they can gather in these towns and on the prostitution of the women. There were two half-caste children, one boy three years, one girl two; also two black children, one boy three years, one girl two; also two black children of four and xix. The dearth of children in all these towns is very noticeable, and can only mean that the race if fast dying out on the fields. In a few years there will not be many left in these districts. As the surrounding country is almost destitute of game and native food generally, I cannot advocate keeping these natives out of the townships, unless they are fed by the country. As regards blankets, I would suggest that a certain day, say new or full moon in April, be fixed as a day of distribution for all these goldfields; by that means there is little chance of any double-banking, whereas given out in the promiscuous fashion as at present, natives can easily go from one township to another and obtain blankets at each place. Although it is somewhat difficult to fix a certain day in the natives' mind, by making the distributing day either new or full moon in a certain month (April, for instance), the natives about the townships could easily be made to understand, by the police, that one month from the full moon in March, blankets would be distributed at the several centres where there are police. There might be a little trouble the first year, but the natives would soon get to know almost the exact date of distribution. By the above means a systematic distribution would be accomplished, and the chances of more than one blanket being given to the same native considerably lessened. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Niagara, 7th December, 1901. |
The Chief Protector of Aborigines, Perth. BURTVILLE. - I visited this township while at Laverton, but found there were no natives there at all. I have, etc., G. S. OLIVEY, Travelling Inspector. Niagara, 7th December, 1901. |