Records of the Aborigines' Office and Successor Agencies

State Records of South Australia holds records that contain information about Aboriginal people in South Australia, including children who were removed from their families by the state (also known as the Stolen Generations), and about Aboriginal missions, stations and reserves, and government policies impacting Aboriginal people. The records were kept by the State departments responsible for the oversight of Aboriginal people in South Australia. Some of the records directly relate to individual children who were removed from their families, whereas other more administrative records can provide contextual information about the systematic removal of Aboriginal children from their families and the mechanisms of control the State imposed on Aboriginal people. Please note that these records may contain language that reflects the values of their time, but is now recognised as offensive.

Access Conditions

Access to most of these records is restricted for 100 years in order to protect personal privacy. People mentioned in these records have a right to access information about themselves. To access open records, or to request access to restricted records, please contact the State Records of South Australia Aboriginal Access Services.

Records

The State Records of South Australia (SRSA) collection of records created by the Aborigines’ Office and successor agencies includes the following records, which may be of use to people searching for records about their Aboriginal heritage, or records of Stolen Generations in South Australia. Further records created by South Australian government departments about Aboriginal affairs can be found on the SRSA online catalogue. SRSA also hold a searchable index of names of Aboriginal people identified in their collection, which can be searched via the State Records Aboriginal Access Services. State Records has also produced a history and guide to records related to the administration of Aboriginal Affairs. This guide, A Little Flour and A Few Blankets, An Administrative History of Aboriginal Affairs in South Australia, 1834-2000, is a valuable resource for understanding how Aboriginal matters were administered and the types of records created by the Government.

Records about People

Alphabetical index to personal files, 1900-1968 (GRG52/4)

This index lists the names, dates of birth, and sometimes alternate names and family connections for Aboriginal people who the Aborigine’s Department held files about. The full files for people named in this index can be found in either the Series ‘Case files relating to Aboriginal families and individuals’, or the Series ‘Case files relating to deceased Aboriginies’.

Photographs and negatives – Aborigines’ Office and successors, 1900-1940 (GRG52/45)

These photographs were mostly taken at Mission stations, and include images of Aboriginal people (mostly un-named).

Card files on individuals – Aborigines’ Department, 1917-1938 (GRG52/87)

These card files contain information about Aboriginal people living at various stations, including Point McLeay, Point Pearce, and Koonibba. Only cards for people with surnames ranging from S to Z have survived.

Case cards, artificial series – ‘Marjorie Angas Collection’, 1917-1969 (GRS/8995)

This series contains copies of case cards from the Aborigine’s Department, Children’s Welfare and Public Relief Department, and Social Welfare departments that contain details about Aboriginal people, including children removed from their families and placed with foster parents.

Name indexes – ‘Marjorie Angas Collection’, 1920-1972 (GRS/8993)

This series contains brief details about 12 Aboriginal individuals and their families.

Record of expenses of official visitor to [Aboriginal] children from Alice Springs, 1926-1942 (GRG52/40)

This book includes information about children who had been removed from Central Australia and were living in South Australia. Please note that the language used in the title of this record is the title it was given at the time of its creation and reflects the language and values of that time.

Letter book relating to the Northern Territory – Protector of Aborigines, 1927-1939 (GRG52/8)

This book contains copies of letters and telegrams relating to Aboriginal children and young adults (probably from Alice Springs and the Northern Territory) who were employed in South Australia. It mostly relates to girls who were in service in Adelaide.

Record of births and marriages of Aborigines in the Kingston district, 1940-1940 (GRG52/44)

Certificates of unconditional exemption from the provisions of the Aborigines Act, 1941-1954 (GRG52/19)

Certificates of limited exemption from the provisions of the Aborigines Act, 1941-1954 (GRG52/20)

Correspondence Records

Correspondence files (‘AO’ later ‘AD’ files) – Aborigines Office and successor, 1866-1969 (GRG52/1)

This is the main correspondence series of the Aborigines’ Office/Departments. It includes files relating to individuals, families, misisons, Homes, policies, and other subjects. State Records of South Australia hold an index to this series (GRG52/2) that can assist in identifying relevant correspondence files.

Correspondence files – Advisory Council of Aborigines, 1921-1939 (GRG52/10)

This series includes files about people, including children, at Point Pearce Aboriginal Station, Point McLeay Aboriginal Station, Ernabella Mission, Nepabunna Mission, the Aboriginal Women’s Home at North Adelaide, and Colebrook Home at Quorn, as well as files about organisations such as the United Aborigines Mission, the Australian Aborigines Mission, and the Aborigines Inland Mission. State Records of South Australia have published an index for this series available here: Index for Correspondence files – Advisory Council on Aborigines 1921-1939.

Correspondence files, annual single number series (‘AD’, ‘DAA’, ‘ADPA’ and ‘DAAPA’ files) – Aborigines’ Department, later Department of Aboriginal Affairs, 1959-1971 (GRS/6624)

Includes files relating to individuals, families, and communities.

Correspondence files, two-tiered, later three-tiered numerical series – Aboriginal Advancement Committee, later Office of Aboriginal Affairs and successors, 1975-2003 (GRS/1277)

Administrative and Contextual Records

Annual Reports – Protector of Aborigines and successors, 1878-1971 (GRS/12387)

Minutes – Advisory Council of Aborigines, 1918-1939 (GRG52/12)

Minutes – Aborigines’ Protection Board, 1940-1963 (GRG52/16)

These minutes sometimes include the names of children who were removed from their families, as well as reports about Aboriginal missions, stations, and reserves, and some references to placements of Aboriginal children at Kurbingai Hostel. Minutes dated 1945-1954, and 1957-1960 are missing from this series.

General administration files, multiple number, closed series – Aboriginal and Islander Co-ordinating Unit, Department for Community Welfare and successors, 1981-1991 (GRS/2402)