Narional Archives of Australia
Darwin Office
CRS F126 Item 59
Special Investigation Trips by Patrol Officer T G H Strehlow
(1) Trip to Daly Waters October 6-16 1938
(2) Trip along OT Line to Birdum October 4-20 1940
Copyright P J Mackett 2005
Trip to Daly Waters October 6-16 1938
Aboriginals at Dunmarra Station October 12, 1938
Name Age Sex Totem Tribe Where From
Charlie Kilwanakari 65y M Sugarbag Tjingili Dunmarra
Smiler Kathina 45y M Walamalana = goanna Tjingili Pamanantja, east of Darwin
Tossell Wantikilkari 65y M Mejupulu = marchfly Tjingili Wantikilkari
George Mananara 20y M Jipuru = rain Tjingili Mantitjina
Freddie Kajuwara 45y M Kalanbuka = rain Tjingili Mantitjina
(Totem also may mean cloud.)
Tommy (abs.) 30y M Barrow Creek Way
Daly Nalurkari 45y M Wilerka = gopanna Patpa, Daly Waters
Jack Batjikula 24y M Purupuruta = caterpiller Newcastle Waters
Bindie Kumalari 14y M Urbutja grass Newcastle Waters
Little Charlie Talguari 15y M Imiaka (bushtucker) Daly Waters
Big Charlie Nirkanku 19y M Imiaka (bushtucker) Daly Waters
Paddy Mairinmi 19y M Jalaua = sugarbag Daly Waters
Goggle Palman 40y M Jaukana = rainbow Daly Waters
Maggie Tanmankina 60y F Jalauwana = sugarbag Tanmankina (= No 2 Bore)
Mary Nola 50y F Iwakuna = rainbow Tjinalu
Nora Mitankina 55y F Wilarka = yellow goanna Daly Waters
Minnie Tutura 55y F Kakuia Beetaloo
Ruby Wanala 50y F Wambana = wallaby Wambana, west of Dunmarra
Dolly 17y F Juakana = rainbow Tjinalu
Maudie Tjutulpa 24y F Juakana = rainbow Daly Waters
(Has two children, Dolly aged 4 years and Billy aged 9 months. Husband is Bob Intjimari.)
Bob Intjimari 45y M (Absent)
(Maudie's husband. Has been at Beetaloo for many months.)
Judie Lanawara 60y F Wanamalana Snake Mantitjani, west of Dunmarra
Lena Walatjannali 35y F Sugarbag Newcastle Waters
(Has two children, Georgie aged 11 years and John aged 6 years.)
Maggie Kalkalnali 60y F Purumana snake Manitjani, west of Dunmarra
Topsy Kurumbiri 19y F Matarku = plum Manitjani, west of Dunmarra
Bluey Bankiala 45y F Purupuruta = caterpillar Wave Hill
Aboriginals at Daly Waters Station October 12, 1938
Name Age Sex Totem Tribe Where From
Kidman Mitala 35y M Nitinita = white snake Tjingili Muruntjai W.H.
Lame Gilbert Bintjimatpi 50y M Wombana = red wallaby Muruntjai W.H.
Paddy Tjinbari 58y M Nitinita = snake Muruntjai W.H.
Mick Rainmaker Tjimitununtja 70y M Kumalawatja = bird Jankumani, other side No 7 Bore
Jaberoo Jariwiri 60y M Nitinita Muruntjai
Penny Fow? Bakatjikari 35y M Nitinita Muruntjai
Charlie Malju 19y M Tjuntakara - venemous snake Napuru = Nellie Hole
Tomba Taljiljikari 18y M Kurkabati Tjingili Kinbinanku, SW of here
Tickler Tomakula 14y M Kurakuraka = bird Muruntjai
Jack Barilana 70y M Kininintji = emu Mankuwuni, south of Muruntjai
Ned Wanawara 50y M Turkey Kinbinunku
Mick Pintata 21y M Kurbalawatja = bird Jankumani
Rosie Nurinmaia 60y F Nalu = sugarbag Tjingili Meiantitjina
Biddy Tjilia 42y F Wombana = wallaby Altji, north of Daly Waters
(Has a son, aged 4 years, called Timmy, wallaby totem, from Altji.)
Ruby Tjauanala 19y F Nitinita snake Muruntjai
Minnie Walbana 40y F Jumara stone Juankumani
(Has a baby girl, Margaret, aged one week.)
Maggie Mitjitbon 65y F Sugarbag Tjanmaru, east of Daly Waters
Kitty Kulankana 70y F Wari snake Muruntjai
Big Biddy Kanamariku 30y F Wombana = wallaby Ankimaranku, Daly Waters
(Has two children, a half-caste son called Ronny aged about 5 years
and a full-blood daughter aged about 9 months named Bessy.)
Lily Tjaramburnali 70y F Wankura = big kangaroo Meiantitjini
Kitty 40y F Near Maranboy
(Absent. Has a son, Shady, aged about 6 years.)
Nancy Lanjina 19y F Nuku = rain No 7 Bore
(Has a half-caste son Russlee, aged about 9 months.)
Aboriginals at Helen Springs Station October 14, 1938
Name Age Sex Totem Tribe Where From
(A) Aboriginals employed by John Bohning (Licence No 1802)
Donald Batanjunu 20y M Water Warramungu Banka Banka
Lofty Wirawiranjunu 35y M Wind Wailpri Powell Creek
Banjo Datjinali 19y M Water Wailpri Renner's Springs
Larry 15y M Water Wailpri Renner's Springs
Willy Leranali 36y M Water Wailpri West of Powell Creek
Peter Walekinjunu 12y M Water Wailpri Renner's Springs
George Putitjuruwati 12y M Water Wailpri Rockhampton Downs
Beanie Tatjinali 40y F Water Warramungu Helen Springs
Mary Liranali 25y F Wind Warramungu Helen Springs
Eva Puntjunu 21y F Snake Wailpri Powell Creek
Note - John Bohning's licence only entitled him to employ 5 persons. He claimed that at the time of his
applying for the licence he was employing only 4 boys and one female, while the others were on a
walkabout. It would seem a good plan for all aboriginal employment licences to be issued by the resident
Protector onlyl and the latter should do so not while sitting at his office desk, but while he is on
patrol, so that he can check up on the number of people actually employed on the station at the time of
his visit. (TGHS)
No wages are paid at Helen Springs. Bohning feeds and clothes the dependants instead. He claims that
all of the young people in his employ were born and reared on his station.
(B) Aboriginals in the camp
Spencer Lalalara 60y M Snake Tjingili Newcastle Waters
Maggie Pilkia 60y W Snake Wailpri West of Helen Springs
Rosie W Not present at the time
(Has daughter Trixie aged 5 years and also not present.)
Note - There was also at the house a half-caste lad Bobbie, aged 7 or 8 years; he was alleged to be
an orphan.
Miscellaneous
(1) Letter dated 4. 9.1938 to Chief Protector of Aboriginals Darwin from Strehlow at Jay Creek.
Mentions half-caste Maggie, who is suffering from TB in the larynx.
(2) Transcript of Report Forwarded to the Superintendent of Police, Darwin,
by Constable Mannion, Brocks Creek. Dated 1938.
(a) Lubra Dinah found at J Stott's camp at Wild Boar (leprosy?).
(b) At Sargent and Madigan's camp there is a Daly River lubra named Mary
who was going to be sent back to her country by the Maroubra.
(3) Telegram to Patrol Officer Strehlow at Newcastle Waters dated 3 or 13 October 1938.
Postmaster Daly Waters complains you removed aboriginal child Trickler. Please advise.
Reply =- Advise parents sent Trickler with me for trip to Alice Springs but since
Postmaster advises parents are now sorry will be returned to Daly Waters next
opportunity by Protector.
(4) Report on Trip to Daly Waters. Dated 10 December 1938.
Details of the above episode with Trickler.
(5) Letter from Chief Protector of Aboriginals to P.O. Strehlow. Dated 15 September 1938.
Hand written note states -
Constable Edwards reported the following details about Milner's Lagoon (Dunmarra) on
9. 3.1938 (addressed to the Inspector of Police).
(a) Employees Little Paddy, Tommy also Bindie or Kidman. Note says had only some clothes
and no mosquito nets. Had to lie on floor of goondy in smoke to keep out mosquitos.
(b) Maudie employed illegally since her boy is not employed. No records of employment
available. Edwards asked Abo department for order to remove Maudie. Said that he
thought that Healy unfit to employ abos.
Remaining notes refer to employment of Aborigines at Dunmarra Station.
(6) Report on Dunmarra Station. Dated 20.10.1938.
(a) Owner of Dunmarra, Healey, had Frank Wilmer as manager. Maudie's husband told
Constable Edwards that Maudie was living with Edwards. A young aborigine
employed at Dunmarra Station stated Maudie was living with Wilmer.
Maudie has a F/B daughter named Dolly aged 4 years and a F/B son named Billy
aged 9 months.
(b) Lubra Buley working in kitchen. Her husband, Daly, also works for Healey.
(c) Maudie is the sister of Daly and sister in law of Bluey. Bluey stated Maudie
did not live with Wilmer.
(7) Hand written note dated 1938 and headed Newcastle Waters.
(a) Mentions a young aboriginal woman aged 18 years who has a young H/C child. She
became pregnant at Beetaloo Station. The child is said to have been fathered
by some passing Queensland drovers.
(b) Rations here are inadequate for the blind and very infirm. There are 12 blind
people here :-
Jack Wannugga, blind
Chookie Marroong, blind
Harry Minjulla, blind
Fat Dick 'Narpoona', blind
Bush Monkey Banjawarra, blind
Rosie Coorynah, blind
Maudie 'Oorah' (with 2 small children), blind from birth
Nellie Mindudkoo, blind
Lena Choondooma, blind
Alice Munganyie, blind
Kitty Munbooga, blind, very aged and remembers building of O.T. Line
There are also 13 aged people. All of these people with the exception of
Nym Cockadee (aged)
Brumby, aged
Bull, aged
have worked on the cattle stations in this district the greater portions of their
lives until they were of no further use.
(8) List of Country Licences to employ Aboriginals issued in Newcastle Waters Police
District (1938).
Max Bernhard Schober, male abos only
A Bohning, drover
John Althaus, drover
Colin James Lobley
H M Bathern, Beetaloo
Peter Bostock, head stockman, Beetaloo Downs
Walter Langdon, manager Newcastle Waters
John Bohning, Helen Springs
P Ambrose, Banka Banka
E Healy, Milner's Lagoon (Dunmarra station)
M O'Connor, Bohenia, Borroloola
W Pearce, Daly Waters
John Lowe, head stockman, Newcastle Waters
Esther Muriel Meaney, Newcastle Waters
Herbert Collins, stockman, Banka Banka
W Carroll, departmental licence
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Trip along OT Line to Birdum October 4-20 1940
(1) Extracts from Report of Mr V White as to Conditions along Birdum -
Alice Springs Road (1940).
There are three H/C women at Banka Banka Station. Two of the women
have daughters in Darwin : -
Ruby Ambrose (Mrs Collins)
Teresa Ambrose (Mrs Cubillo)
Both were educated in Darwin. Not sure if these were daughters of mothers.
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