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South Australia - Organisation

Manunka Mission (1901 - 1916)

From
1901
To
1916
Categories
Mission
Alternative Names
  • Manunka Aborigines' Mission Home (Also known as)

The Manunka Mission was established by Mrs Janet Matthews in 1901 on the Murray River near Mannum. It operated as a Mission and a government ration station. A day school operated at the Mission and a dormitory was planned. In 1909 there were 40-50 Aboriginal people living at the Mission. Manunka Mission closed in 1916. The ration station operated into the 1930s.

Details

The Manunka Mission was established by the missionary Mrs Janet Matthews in 1901 on 40 acres of land along the banks of the Murray River near Mannum. The Mission also operated as a ration station distributing Government supplied food, medicines and materials to some local Aboriginal people. The government provided funds to the Mission of approximately £200 per year, and it received some subscriptions from the public. The Mission's residents also helped to support the Mission with basket making, 'rush-work' and by working on farms in the local area. By 1909 it was reported that 40 or 50 Aboriginal people were living at the Mission. Mrs Matthews ran a day school for Aboriginal children and a dormitory was planned. The Mission closed in 1916. Many families who resided at the Manunka Mission later moved to the Swan Reach Mission and then onto Gerard Mission. The ration depot at Manunka continued to operate into the 1930s.

Location

1901 - 1916
Location - Manunka Mission was situated near Mannum, South Australia. Location: Mannum

Related Glossary Terms

Related Organisations

Publications

Books

  • Matthews, Janet (aka Mrs Daniel Matthews), The story of the Manunka Aborigines' Mission Home, Forster, Murray River, South Australia, Whillas & Ormiston, Adelaide, South Australia, 1910. Details

Online Resources

Sources used to compile this entry: 'Aboriginal Australians and the River: Aboriginal missions on the River Murray', in SA Memory, 2010, http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1317; Matthews, Janet (aka Mrs Daniel Matthews), The story of the Manunka Aborigines' Mission Home, Forster, Murray River, South Australia, Whillas & Ormiston, Adelaide, South Australia, 1910.

Prepared by: Gary George