Narional Archives of Australia
Darwin Office
CRS F315/0
Item 1949/393A Part 1
Patrol Officers Reports - All Patrol Officers 1949
Patrol of Stations in Timber Creek and Wave Hill Districts 1947
Copyright P J Mackett, 2005
Patrol of Stations in Timber Creek and Wave Hill Districts September - October 1947
Patrol Officer G Sweeney.
Cadet Patrol Officer Evans made the patrol with me.
Route Followed from Katherine - Roads and Distances
Katherine to Manbuloo Station
8 miles. Good formed road.
Manbuloo Station to Wileroo Station
73 miles. No water near road; a fair bush road. Last
20 miles in Basalt and 'black soil'.
We did not go into Delamere Station, 40 miles south of
Wileroo Station, as the clearance of our utility truck was
insufficient for boulders on the road.
Wileroo Station to Coolibah Station
64 miles. Several stretches of 'black soil' in first
30 miles; the last 30 miles is in river country with numerous
creek crossings and several sharp pinches which caught the
overhang of the utility truck and tore off the spare tyre
carrier.
The road crosses the Victoria River 12 miles from Coolibah
Station and again at the Station.
Coolibah Station to Timber Creek Police Station
49 miles. A number of creek crossings and numerous
crossings of rock outcrops. Joins Timber Creek - VRD Road
7 miles from the Police Station.
Timber Creek to Auvergne Station
40 miles. The road follows the Victoria River for 10 miles
providing several good views of reaches of the tidal part of the
river. In this 10 miles there are several creek crossings and
rough stoney places followed by 30 miles of good bush road.
Auvergne Station to Newry Station
64 miles. Good bush road.
Newry Station to Rosewood via Argyle Station
Newry to Argyle Station - 38 miles, good bush road.
Argyle to Rosewood Station - 27 miles, several creek
crossings. Good bush road.
Rosewood to Waterloo Station
27 miles. Black soil and basalt stones, a bumpy road.
Waterloo Station to Mistake Creek via Rosewood Station
Waterloo to Rosewood Station - 27 miles.
Rosewood to Mistake Creek - 63 miles, includes 30 miles of
hilly country, a good bush road, chiefly in Western Australia.
Mistake Creek to Inverway Station
75 miles. A good bush road.
Inverway Station to Birrindudu Station
43 miles. A good bush road over downs country. Road follows
Sturt Creek.
Birrindudu to Limbunya Station via Inverway Station
Birrindudu to Inverway Station - 43 miles.
Inverway to Limbunya - 51 miles. This is in desert and low
hills recently 'fire plowed' by natives with a donkey team. A good
bush road.
Limbunya Station to Wave Hill Station via Wave Hill Police Station
Limbunya Station to Police Station - 90 miles. A good bush
road.
Police Station to Wave Hill Station - 9 miles. A good bush
road, crosses Victoria River at the Police Station.
Wave Hill Station to Montejinnie Station
97 miles. A good bush road.
Montejinnie Station to Victoria River Downs Station via Mulooloo Outstation
Montejinnie Station to Mulooloo Station - 34 miles. Good
road, 'fire plowed' over downs country.
Mulooloo Station to VRD Station - 40 miles. Good road,
'fire plowed'.
VRD Station to Humbert River Station via Gordon Creek Outstation
VRD to Gordon Creek Station - 11 miles.
Gordon Creek Station to Humbert River - 19 miles. Fair bush
road with several steep creek crossings. The road follows the
Wickham and Humbert Rivers.
Humbert River Station to Birrimbah Station
127 miles. Leave Montejinnie road 9 miles from Mulooloo and
join Dry River Road 3 miles from Birrimbah Station - 20 miles of
bumpy black soil.
Birrimbah Station to Katherine
118 miles. The Dry River Road - good road.
Total distance from Katherine and return to Katherine - 1260 miles.
Used 84 gallons of petrol - average 15 miles per gallon.
Report on individual Stations
Manbulloo Station
Dagaman tribe now replaced by Djauan.
The station is situated 9 miles below the Katherine township
on a permanent waterhole in the Katherine River.
Owner - Vesteys.
Manager - Mr Tom Fisher.
The native camp consists of humpies built of scraps of old
iron.
A new building has been erected near the homestead comprising
a 20' x 15' mess hut with ant-bed floor, fitted with table; an
8' x 8' shower room, cement floor; and 7' x 8' laundry with cement
floor. This building is to serve the needs of native women employed
about the Station.
A two-compartment latrine has been erected. The pan system is
used.
Natives on the station :
Workers - 28 men, 15 women
Aged - 5 women
Children - 7 boys, ages 14,11,5,5,5,4.3
6 girls, ages 14,14,14,13,7,4
Mr Fisher is caring for a part-aborigine boy Sabu, 6 years of
age. Sabu has his meals at the Manager's house.
Wileroo Station
Wadaman tribe.
Under the management of Manbuloo Station - is on Wileroo Creek.
The station is fitted with transceiver wireless.
Mr Gorey, head stockman, and his wife are in charge.
The native camp on the other side of the creek from the station
is a collection of humpies built of pieces of old iron.
A new building 21' x 15' has been erected comprising a mess hut
12' x 15', a 6' x 6' shower room and a 6' x 6' laundry to serve the
needs of native women employed about the station.
Water supply - well, windmill and tank.
Natives on the station :
Workers - 11 men, 14 women
Aged - 4 men, 4 women
Children - 6 boys, ages 11,10,10,8,7,2
6 girls, ages 8, 7, 7, 4, 2, 2
Four half-caste children in the native camp.
Frank Frith, half-caste is breaking in horses for the Station.
Delamere Station
Wadaman tribe.
We did not visit this station. Clearance of our utility
insufficient for the rough road.
The station is under Mr Fisher of Manbulloo who supplied the
following data.
Head stockman - Mr H Huddleston, half-caste
Natives on station :
Workers - 14 men, 8 women
Children - 9 boys, ages 14,11,11,9,8,7,6,6,3
Two half-caste children in the native camp.
Coolibah Station
Nungali tribe.
The station is situated on the bank of the Victoria River
(Katherine side). The river takes a bend at this section and the
road crosses it twice coming in from Wileroo.
Mr Tom Quilty is the owner and manager. He was away from the
station with his stock camp. Mr Quilty is living apart from
his wife.
Miss Underwood was in charge of the station in his absence.
Mr Roderick Quilty, Tom Quilty's son, was working at the
Station.
Men are at work at the station building a stone house and a
Sidney William hut as a store.
The station has a transceiver wireless and an aeroplane
landing ground - Connellans service.
Water supply is from a permanent waterhole in the Victoria
River. A length of about 23 chains of chiefly 1 1/2' piping lead
from the waterhole to the homestead and the water is raised by
two hand pumps in this length of piping.
Two natives work each hand pump from before sunrise to sunset
with time off for meals, seven days a week.
Mr Quilty is still having trouble with his working natives
running away from the Station. Two of the natives on the hand
pumps were under punishment for going walkabout without the
manager's permission. Two lubras were shut up each night in a
store building and not permitted to camp with their husbands in
the camp because they had previously run away from the station.
Constable Stott had recently returned one boy to the station who
had left the station.
The boys working around the station when questioned stated
that food and clothing were in short supply and that Mr Quilty
was a hard master.
The native camp was a collection of humpies built of scraps
of old iron.
Four temporary native huts had been erected with new corrugated
iron by laying the iron to form a ridge or tent like structure,
about 5 feet high in the centre.
The native buildings required by the Pastoral Award are
to be built between the station and the river.
Natives on the station :
Workers - 12 men, 10 women
Aged - 2 women
Children - 6 boys, ages 12.11,4,2,2,1
6 girls, ages 13,12,4,2,1,1
The natives on the station belong to the Jamijung tribe
from Bradshaws. Mr Quilty brought these with him when he took
up Coolibah Station.
I discussed the complaints of natives and native conditions
generally on the station with Mr Roderick Quilty. He replied
that they treated the natives the same as they are treated on
other stations. He agreed to work another shift on the hand
pumps and to release the two lubras who had been shut up each
night and allow then to camp with their relatives in the camp.
I showed Mr Quilty the sections of the Aboriginals
Ordinance dealing with working conditions of the natives.
Timber Creek Police Station, Ration Depot
Constable Stott was away on Patrol.
Natives at the Depot :
Workers - 3 men, 3 women
Others - 8 men, 20 women
Children - 4 boys, ages 12,8,4,3
3 girls, ages 8,1,3 mths
One half-caste child in the native camp.
The Police Station has a transceiver wireless set and landing
ground - Connellans Service.
Auvergne Station
Naringman tribe who have come in from the Sandstone country
to the south.
The station is situated on the bank of the East Baines
River on a permanent waterhole.
Owners - Conner, Doherty and Durack.
Manager - Mr Reg Durack who lives at the station with his
wife.
The station has a transceiver wireless and landing ground -
Connellans Service.
Water supply for the station is by well, windmill and over-
head tank.
Three native huts 11' x 9', one single boys' hut 30' x 15'
and two lavatories with cement floors were on the station for
the use of native employees.
A bush native camp was situated 1/2 mile below the station
on the river. The natives in the bush camp were of the Garima
tribe from Pt Keats Mission. They are rationed by Mr Durack.
Natives on the station :
Workers - 15 men, 16 women
Children - 7 boys, ages 12,11,10,8,1,1,1
3 girls, ages 4,2,1
Bush Camp - 4 men, 7 women
Children - 4 boys, ages 2,2,1,1
2 girls, ages 1,6 mths
Peter Fraser, half-caste stockman, married.
Donald Birch, half-caste cook, single.
Newry Station
Mari-u-ung or Mariung tribe.
Newry station is on the Keep River.
Owners - Conner, Doherty and Durack.
Mr Tom Ronan, who is shortly to be married is manager.
The station has a transceiver wireless and landing ground -
Connellans Service.
Water supply is by well, engine and overhead tank.
The native camp consists of a collection of old humpies
built of scraps of old iron.
Natives on the station :
Workers - 15 men, 10 women
Aged - 2 men, 4 women
Children - 4 boys, ages 12,5,1,6 mths
8 girls, ages 12,7,5,3,2,1,6 mths,4 mths
One half-caste child in the native camp.
Rosewood Station
Mari-u-ung or Mariung tribe.
Rosewood station buildings are just within the Northern
Territory, portion of the station holding is in Westerm Australia.
Manager - Mr R Hayes. Bookkeeper - Mr Eric Blanche.
Mr Hayes was away on the station with the stock camp.
The station has no transceiver or landing ground. They obtain
their mail through Argyle station in Western Australia. A trans-
ceiver wireless is on order.
Water supply - 2 bores, windmills and overhead tanks.
One of the best improved homesteads and stations in the
Northern Territory.
The goat yard has a concrete floor throughout and a well-
built shelter for the goats. Sheds are steel framed buildings
with cement floors.
Five native huts 8'6' x 8'6', one hut 12' x 8'6', one long
hut 34' x 12' is divided into four compartments of 12' x 8'6'.
The huts are of corrugated iron and well built but have no
windows or ventilation and are very hot inside. The natives
rarely camp in them.
The previous owner, Mr Kilfoyle had paid wages to his native
employees and before leaving had given them a trip to Wyndham and
a bonus each.
Natives on the station :
Workers - 28 men, 14 women
Children - 2 aboriginal girls, ages 5,2
4 threequarter-caste children, ages 7,5,3,1
3 half-caste children, ages 5,2,1
Stephen Wanimir (aboriginal) is married to Eileen Griffiths,
half-caste. They have four children.
Andrew Wilson, half-caste, is married to Daffodil Sullivan,
half-caste. They have three children.
The parents were educated at Forest River Mission. The men
work as stockmen on the Station.
James Peters, half-caste, saddler.
Jack Clark, half-caste, stockman.
Stephen Wanimir and Andrew Wilson made enquiries re Child
Endowment. Child Endowment claims are being forwarded to them
through the manager.
James Peters stated that he had applied for exemption some
months previously but had received no decisive answer. A copy
of his exemption has been forwarded to him.
Waterloo Station
Maringman tribe.
The station is situated 27 miles south-east from Rosewood
station. It is one of Vesteys stations.
Mr Jim Hagan, manager, is married. His wife and children
are on the Station with him. Mr J Hubbard is bookkeeper.
The station has a transceiver wireless but no aeroplane
landing ground.
Water supply is a well with engine, windmill and overhead
tank.
The native camp, about half a mile from the station, consists
of a collection of humpies made of scraps of old iron.
Natives on the station :
Workers - 25 men, 11 women
Aged - 4 women
Children - 4 boys, ages 12,8,3,6 mths
The head stockman is a half-caste, George Man Fong.
The working boys include 9 single boys from Maranboy who were
brought there by Mr Hagan. These boys keep to themselves and unless
opportunity is given them to marry later may prove a problem to the
station.
Mr Hagan is aware of the Aboriginals Pastoral Award but has
not yet made any plans for carrying it out.
Mistake Creek Station
Malngin tribe.
The station is situated on Negri River near its junction
with Mistake Creek.
There is a large permanent waterhole at the junction.
The station is an outstation of Ord River Station which is
in Western Australia. It is owned by Vesteys.
Mr Peter Hagan, single, is head stockman with a married stockman
Mr 'Snowy' Barlow. Mr Barlow has his wife and child with him.
There is no transceiver or aeroplane landing ground. Com-
munication is by telephone line with Ord River which has trans-
ceiver and landing ground.
Water supply for the station is by a well (out of order) and
windlass.
The station intends to put in a windmill and overhead tank
on the permanent waterhole to supply the station.
It is intended to build the native settlement required by
the Pastoral Award on the banks of the Negri near the permanent
waterhole.
The native camp, about a quarter of a mile from the station,
consists of a number of humpies built of scraps of old iron.
Natives on station :
Workers - 16 men, 13 women
Aged - 1 man, 7 women
Children - 1 boy, age 4
3 girls, ages 6,5,1 1/2
The workers are chiefly adults over 40 years of age.
Inverway Station
Wanjira tribe.
The station is situated 73 miles south-east of Mistake Creek
near the head waters of Sturt Creek.
Owners - Farquharson Pastoral Company.
Mr F Wilmington, single, is manager. Mr Archie Farquharson,
the last of the Farquharson brothers, lives at the Station. He
is over 80 years old.
The station has a transceiver and aeroplane landing ground -
Connellans service.
Water supply for the station is by bore, windmill and over-
head tank.
The native camp about a quarter of a mile from the station
consists of a collection of humpies built of scraps of old iron.
Natives on the station :
Workers - 35 men, 26 women
Aged - 5 women
Children - 7 boys, ages 12,11,11,10,8,2,6 mths
4 girls, aged 11,2,2,3 mths
Jack Farquharson, half-caste, general hand.
Alex Scott, half-caste, general hand married to Margaret
Thompson, half-caste.
The station has a big building programme ahead to put its own
station buildings in order.
No difficulty should be experienced with reference to the
native settlement required by the Pastoral Award.
Sali Mahomet, an Afghan, has a small store on the station.
Birrindudu Station
Nginning tribe.
Birrindudu station is situated 43 miles south of Inverway
station on the Sturt Creek near a small waterhole which goes dry
each year.
The station is an outstation of Gordon Downs which is in
Western Australia.
Owner - Vesteys.
Head stockman - Mr W Speed (single).
The station has a transceiver wireless but no landing ground.
Water supply is from the waterhole and a well and windmill.
The well water is brackish and only fit for stock. During dry
periods the station frequently moves temporarily to a bore on the
station.
The native camp, about a quarter of a mile from the station,
consists of a collection of humpies built of scarps of old iron.
Natives on the station :
Workers - 15 men, 10 women
Aged - 1 man, 2 women
Children - 3 boys, ages 10,5,1 1/2
There are 5 desert Wailbris in the stock camp.
Limbunya Station
Malngin tribe.
The station is situated 55 miles south-east of Waterloo
station on a large permanent rockhole, Limbunya Rockhole, in
rocky country. It is worked in conjunction with Waterloo Station.
Owner - Vesteys.
Manager - Mr H McCullock, married. Mrs McCullock and
children are on the station.
Bookkeeper - Mr K Prendergast.
The station has a transceiver wireless and a landing ground,
5 miles out from the station - Connellans service.
Water supply for the station is by engine and pump from the
rockhole.
The native camp, about a quarter of a mile from the station,
consists of a collection of humpies built of scraps of old iron.
Natives on the station :
Workers - 19 men, 14 women
Aged - 5 women
Children - 3 boys, ages 10,4,3 mths
2 girls, ages 11,1 1/2 years
One half-caste child in the native camp.
There are few local natives on the station. The camp is made
up of Malngin, Wginning, Gurinji, Wailbri and WA natives.
George Sing Poo, half-caste, general hand is married to a full
blood lubra.
Dick Smith, half-caste, drover for Vesteys.
The site of the station is very rocky with little soil. The
station has made up a small vegetable garden.
A new building 20' x 16' with two 7 feet verandahs for natives
has been erected near the homestead. The building is comprised
of a 10' x 8' bathroom and mess hut. The floor is made of flat
limestone grouted with ant-bed. This building will serve native
women employed at the kitchen and staff house.
Mr McCullock had put a stove in the mess hut and appeared
very disgusted that the native women preferred an outside cooking
fire and would not use the stove.
Considering the material available and the rocky nature of
the environs, Mr McCullock has made a good job of the building.
Wave Hill Station
Gurinji tribe.
The station is situated about 8 miles east of the Victoria
River crossing near the Wave Hill Police Station and 98 miles
from Limbunya Station.
Manager - Mr Milton Willick, married. Mrs Willick lives
on the station.
Bookkeeper - Mr Alan Willick.
Owner - Vesteys.
The manager was away from the station.
The station has a transceiver wireless and a landing ground
4 miles from the station - Connellan and MacRobertson Miller
services.
Water supply - a well and a bore, engine, windmill and over-
head tanks.
The native camp, about quarter of a mile from the station,
consists of a rambling collection of humpies built of scraps of
old iron.
Natives on the station :
Workers - 46 men, 25 women
Others - 20 men, 65 women
Children - 44 boys, 0-4 5-8 9-14
15 15 14
22 girls 0-4 5-8 9-14
6 8 8
Seven half-caste children in native camp.
Calico, half-caste, away droving married to full blood lubra
Gudugu, Gurinji Tribe. Gudugu and her six children live near the
Afghan's store near the Police Station. The family draws rations
from the store at Calico's expense. The children were all strong
and healthy.
The native camp at Wave Hill station is divided into two main
parts - the southern part belongs to the Wailbris, a tribe from the
desert to the south and the northern part to the Gurinjis and Mudburas.
The local river tribe is the Gurinji tribe; the Mudburas have
come in from the desert to the east and have largely inter-married
with the Gurinjis.
The greater proportion of the children is in the Wailbri group,
the local Gurinjis, although rejuvenated by inter-marriage with the
Mudburas, are showing signs of going the same way as other tribes
on the cattle stations.
The power grader is working on the road from Wave Hill to
Hookers Creek.
Montejinnie Outstation
Mudbura tribe.
This station is on Montejinnie Creek, 95 miles north-east of
Wave Hill Station.
Montejinnie Station is an outstation of Victoria River Downs.
Owner - Bovril Australian Estates Ltd.
Mr R Norton, married, is head stockman, his wife resides on
the station. Two of their children attend school at Victoria River
Downs Station.
Mr Norton was out on the station with the stock camp.
The station has a transceiver wireless and an emergency landing
ground.
Water supply is from a well and windlass on the opposite side
of Montejinnie Creek. Lubras carry the water 150 yards from the well
to the house.
The native camp, on the opposite side of the creek, consists
of a few humpies built of scraps of old iron.
Natives on the station :
Workers - 7 men, 8 women
Children 3 boys, ages 12,6,1 1/2
Mulooloo Outstation
Naringman tribe.
This station is on the Montejinnie - VRD Road, 34
miles from Montejinnie and 40 miles from VRD and is an out-
station of VRD.
Jack Lidell, single, is head stockman.
Communications are by motor road with Montejinnie or VRD.
Water supply - bore, windmill and tank.
The native camp consists of a few humpies built of scraps
of old iron.
Natives on the station :
Workers - 10 men, 6 women
Children - 4 boys, ages 12,11,8,3
3 girls, ages 11, 4, 2
The natives belong to the Naringman, Jamijung and Mudbura
tribes.
Victoria River Downs Station
Naringman tribe.
The station is situated on the Wickham River on a large
permanent waterhole. The road crosses the Victoria River 9 miles
from the station.
Manager - Mr H Magnussen.
Bookkeeper - Mr J Rodin.
Owner - Bovril Australian Estates Ltd.
The station has a transceiver wireless and landing ground -
Connellan and MacRobertson Miller service.
Water supply for the station is by engine and pump to over-
head tank from the river.
The native camp consists of a collection of humpies built of
scraps of old iron. It is alongside the station on the banks of
the river.
A camping shed 33' x 24' stands near the native camp. It is
used in the wet season.
Natives on the station -
Workers - 14 men, 16 women
Aged & others - 2 men, 14 women
Children - 4 boys, ages 4,3,3,2
5 girls, ages 6,4,4,2,1
Four half-caste children in the native camp.
Centre Camp, worked from station :
Workers - 8 men, 3 women
Doug Campbell, half-caste, married to full blood lubra,
general hand.
There is a school on the station for children of white staff
employed by the station. Mrs R Nelson, a trained school teacher,
is in charge of the school. She recently married the second
overseer on the station (Mr R Nelson). Mrs Nelson is interested
in the natives and had desired to include the half-castes and even
native children in her school but the management objected. The
manager's policy is to treat the half-castes as aboriginals.
The manager, although intending to go ahead with the native
buildings required by the Pastoral Award, is not enthusiastic and
raised many objections which I discussed with him.
He also raised the question of natives leaving their employ-
ment. I told him the natives were free agents and if stations dis
not fulfil their obligations the native was within his rights in
seeking better conditions elsewhere but each case should be
investigated as frequently the trouble is over native women in the
camp.
We were not able to visit Pigeon Hole Ourstation or Mt
Sandford Outstation as there was no motor road fit for our utility
into these stations. The bookkeeper supplied me with the following
data :-
Pigeon Hole Outstation
On the Victoria River 40 miles above VRD,
Head stockman - Mr Jack McDonald, single.
Natives on station :
Workers - 13 men, 9 women
Aged - 1 man, 4 women
Children - 4 boys, ages 3,3,2,2
Three half-caste children in the native camp.
Bob Butler, half-caste, looking after the bore, married to a full
blood lubra.
Mt Sandford Outstation
Near Mt Sandford in the south-west part of the station.
Head stockman - Mr Geo Bates, single.
Natives on station :
Workers - 12 men, 13 women
Aged - 1 man, 2 women
Children - 2 boys, ages 8,3
1 girl, age 1
One half-caste child in station camp.
Gordon Creek Outstation
This outstation is on the Wickham Rover on the road from
VRD to Humbert River Station, 11 miles from VRD.
Head stockman - Mr M Morke, married. His wife lives on the
station.
Water supply - a permanent waterhole in Wickham River. Lubras
carry the water to the station.
Natives on the station :
Workers - 9 men, 4 women
Aged - 5 women
Children - 3 boys, ages 7,2,1 1/2
1 girl, age 9
One half-caste child in the camp.
Humbert River Station
Naringman tribe.
This station is situated on the Humbert River on the
Aboriginal Reserve, 30 miles from VRD. Mr C Schultz, the
owner, married, lives on the station with his wife. He holds
a grazing licence of the Aboriginal Reserve.
He has a listening in set by means of which he receives
messages and telegrams from VRD. He has no landing ground.
Water supply for the station is by windmill out of a
permanent waterhole in the Humbert River into an overhead tank.
The native camp alongside the station consists of a few
humpies built of scraps of old iron.
Natives on the station :
Workers - 5 men, 5 women
Aged - 4 women
Others - 2 women
Children - 3 boys, ages 12,4,3
1 girl, age 11
One half-caste child on the station.
One half-caste stockman, Man Kee.
The half-caste child on the station, Leslie Humbert, 13
years of age, is taking correspondence lessons under Mrs Schultz's
supervision.He is this year taking all 4th grade subjects except
history. The lad's mother is dead. He is being well looked after
by the Schultz's and is being trained in stock work.
Humbert River Station is poor country but Mr Schultz has
built a good homestead chiefly out of local materials and has
improved his station.
Mr Schultz was absent in Katherine. We saw him there on
10th October. He is dismantling buildings in Katherine that he
has brought to re-erect at the Humbert. Portion of the material
will be used for native huts as required by the Pastoral Award.
Mr Schultz intends to lay water on through the native camp which
is to be built alongside the station on the bank of the Humbert
River.
Birrimbah Station
Wadaman tribe.
This station is situated on the Dry River Road
about 75 miles from Montejinnie. It is under the control of
Manbuloo Station. There are very few stock on the station.
Ranji Smith, half-caste, is caretaker.
Water supply - bore, windmill and stock tanks.
Natives on the station :
Workers - 3 men, 2 women
Mr Jack Davidson, drover, is camped at the station. He is
living with full blood lubra Maggie and has two half-caste children.
The elder, 7 years of age, Mr Davidson states he is sending
to Alice Springs to school. He says he has permission to marry
the lubra.
CSIR Experimental Farm, Katherine
Employs 6 men and one woman. There is a mess hut, kitchen,
shower room, and lavatory (burning type) all with concrete floors
for use of the native employees. The meals, kitchen and mess hut
are supervised by a married couple and demonstrate that natives
can take responsibility in such matters.
Leguna Station
This station is in the extreme north-west corner of the
Northern Territory and was not visited. It is owned by Bovril
Australian Estates Ltd. but is under the control of Carlton Station
in Western Australia. We were not able to get any data re this
station.
Full Blood Natives on Stations and Employed Natives.
Timber Creek and Wave Hill Police Districts
Employed Natives 363 men 255 women
Total adult natives 407 men 416 women
Children 130 boys 76 girls
Total natives on stations - 823 adults 206 children
A proportion of the natives listed as employees are elderly
natives who do general work around the station.
Women are employed as water carriers, in the garden, kitchen,
laundry, staff houses and as goat shepherds.
There are approximately 57 boys and 40 girls in this district
under 5 years of age.
Infant mortality is high.
On VRD, the largest station in the Northern Territory,
there have been only 7 births of full blood children in the last
3 years.
On Limbunya station there have been 2 births in this period.
On each of Rosewood, Waterloo, Mistake Creek and Birrindudu
there has been only one full blood child born in the last 3 years.
On Humbert River there have been no births.
The above figures are for children who have lived and do not
take into account infant mortality.
The stations are becoming anxious as to their future labor
supply. They are slow to recognize that the health, nutrition
and welfare of the women and children is the key to their problem.
The new Pastoral Award and the proposed Government Station
on Hookers Creek will do much to safegard the future of the
natives in the district.
The station on Hookers Creek should be in action soon after
the Pastoral Award comes into force to offer a home for aged
natives, women and children and natives not wanted by stations in
the Wave Hill district as well as desert natives from the south.
Married Staff on Cattle Stations
Vesteys and VRD have married stockmen on some of their
outstations and mose of the headstations have white women on the
station.
The presence of white women on the stations sets a higher
standard for the white staff and thus affords, indirectly, a
protection for the native women on the stations.
The practice of placing married stockmen on outstations is
to be commended and in general the wives of the stockmen are
interested in the natives.
The Pastoral Award
The Pastoral Award is receiving a mixed reception on the
stations. The general attitude is one of scepticism but there
is evidence that several stations, such as Inverway, Rosewood,
Auvergne and Humbert River, are sincere in their intentions to
do their part in implementing the conditions of the Award when
it becomes law.
Manbuloo, Wileroo and Limbunya Stations have erected a small
building to serve the purpose of mess hut, kitchen, shower room
and laundry for native women working in the station kitchen and
staff houses.
The buildings are not being used and no help is given the
natives in their use. It is expected that the natives will use
them in the wet season when they require shelter from the rain.
G Sweeney
Patrol Officer
21.10.1947
Part Aborigines in the Timber Creek and Wave Hill Districts 1947
(1) Children in the Aboriginal Camps with the Mother
Manbulloo Station
Name Sabu
Caste H/C
Approx Age 6 years
Sex Male
Mother Maggie
Tribe Wadaman
Alleged Father Harry Kim Singh (Indian)
Remarks In Mr Fisher's care.
Wileroo Station
Name Bill 'Wileroo'
Caste H/C
Approx Age 10 years
Sex Male
Mother Ludy Ibaluma
Tribe Wadaman
Alleged Father European
Remarks In stock camp
Name John Gill
Caste H/C
Approx Age 5 years
Sex Male
Mother Maggie Nalyiri (25 years)
Tribe Wadaman
Alleged Father John Gill (European)
Remarks
Name Eileen Murijin
Caste H/C
Approx Age 5 1/2 years
Sex Female
Mother Lucy Gubungga (25 years)
Tribe Wadaman
Alleged Father Chinese
Remarks
Name Annie
Caste 3/4C
Approx Age 1 year
Sex Female
Mother Elsie Gun-bir-in-yin (16 years)
Tribe Wadaman
Alleged Father Donald Birch H/C
Remarks
Delamere Station
Name Micky Maloney
Caste H/C
Approx Age 4 years
Sex Male
Mother Mary
Tribe Mudbura
Alleged Father Mick Maloney (European)
Remarks
Name Mick Smith
Caste 3/4C
Approx Age 9 years
Sex Male
Mother Alice Yal-gam-guna
Tribe Wadaman
Alleged Father Ranji Smith H/C
Remarks
Timber Creek Police Station
Name Larry
Caste H/C
Approx Age 2 years
Sex Male
Mother Nora Raura
Tribe Jamijung
Alleged Father Frank Lacy (European)
Remarks
Newry Station
Name Harold
Caste H/C
Approx Age 12 years
Sex Male
Mother Daisy Min-gin
Tribe Mariung
Alleged Father European
Remarks
Waterloo Station
Name David
Caste H/C
Approx Age 9 months
Sex Male
Mother Maggie Yang-a-ra
Tribe Naringman
Alleged Father European
Remarks
Limbunya Station
Name Shanus or Janus
Caste H/C
Approx Age 2 years
Sex Male
Mother Lizzie Lang-ari
Tribe Wanjira
Alleged Father Derry Brown (European)
Remarks
Wave Hill Station
Name Dora
Caste H/C
Approx Age 7 years
Sex Female
Mother Ida Gon-bil
Tribe Gurinji
Alleged Father Sam Marshall (European)
Remarks
Name Rita
Caste H/C
Approx Age 6 years
Sex Female
Mother Hilda Din-ya-rab
Tribe Gurinji
Alleged Father European
Remarks
Name Captain
Caste H/C
Approx Age 5 years
Sex Male
Mother Daisy Yul-bung-u
Tribe Gurinji
Alleged Father European
Remarks
Name Peggy
Caste H/C
Approx Age 5 years
Sex Female
Mother Daisy Bul-bul-nali
Tribe Wailbri
Alleged Father Sali Mahomet (Afghan)
Remarks
Name John
Caste H/C
Approx Age 4 years
Sex Male
Mother Polly La-jai (20 years)
Tribe Gurinji
Alleged Father Frank Ellison (European)
Remarks
Name Florrie
Caste H/C
Approx Age 2 years
Sex Female
Mother Doreen Jau-ali
Tribe Gurindji
Alleged Father Bill Cousins (European)
Remarks
Name Mary
Caste H/C
Approx Age 1 1/2 years
Sex Female
Mother Kitty Dawul (17 years)
Tribe Mudbura
Alleged Father European
Remarks Mother from Montejinnie
Victoria River Downs Station
Name Greeba
Caste H/C
Approx Age 12 years
Sex Male
Mother Clara Malanya
Tribe Naringman
Alleged Father European
Remarks In stock camp
Name Kim
Caste H/C
Approx Age 4 years
Sex Male
Mother Nora Gan-gal
Tribe Naringman
Alleged Father Chinaman
Remarks
Name Mitzi
Caste H/C
Approx Age 2 years
Sex Female
Mother Kitty Naj-ngari
Tribe Naringman
Alleged Father Harold Faulconer (European)
Remarks
Gordon Creek Station
Name Rosie
Caste H/C
Approx Age 5 years
Sex Female
Mother Nina Nab-i-dein
Tribe Naringman
Alleged Father Chas Hazard (European)
Remarks
Pigeon Hole Station
Name Ted
Caste H/C
Approx Age 11 years
Sex Male
Mother Kitty Daran
Tribe Bilinara
Alleged Father Sid Cooper (European)
Remarks
Name Sandy
Caste H/C
Approx Age 10 years
Sex Male
Mother Jindalwa
Tribe Mudbura
Alleged Father Geo Shaw (European)
Remarks
Name Ah Lai
Caste H/C
Approx Age 6 years
Sex Male
Mother Mable (Mabel) Wangala
Tribe Bilinara
Alleged Father C Ah Lai (Chinese)
Remarks
Humbert River Station
Name Leslie Humbert
Caste H/C
Approx Age 13 years
Sex Male
Mother Abo (dead)
Tribe
Alleged Father European
Remarks Being educated by Mrs Schultz
Total part-aborigine children living in Aborigine camps with their mothers is 27.
(2) Part Aborigine Families
Name Caste Age Sex Born Birthplace Relation Mother Father Remarks
Auvergne Station
Peter Fraser H/C 31 yrs M Bradshaw Husband Abo Eur Stockman
Mable (Mabel) Fraser H/C 21 yrs F W.A. Wife Abo Eur nee Mable Birch, step-sister to Donald Birch
Shirley Fraser H/C 1 yr F Auvergne Daughter
Rosewood Station
Stephen Wanimir Abo 27 yrs M Wyndham Husband Educated Forest River Mission
Eileen Griffiths H/C 30 yrs F W.A. Wife Abo Eur Educated Forest River Mission
Gerald Griffiths 3/4C 7 yrs M 9.10.1940 Wyndham Son
Victor Griffiths 3/4C 5 yrs M 4. 8.1942 Rosewood Son
Irene Griffiths 3/4C 3 yrs F .11.1944 Rosewood Daughter
David Griffiths 3/4C 1 yr M 4. 9.1946 Rosewood Son
Andrew Wilson H/C 25 yrs M Carlton W.A. Husband Abo Ind Educated F.R.M.
Daffodil 'Sullivan' H/C 24 yrs F Argyle W.A. Wife Abo Eur Educated F.R.M.
Autry Wilson H/C 5 yrs M 15. 4.1942 F.R.M. W.A. Son
Jessie Wilson H/C 2 yrs F 18. 8.1945 Argyle W.A. Daughter
Thelma Wilson H/C 1 yr F 24. 8.1946 Rosewood Daughter
Inverway Station
Walter A Scott H/C 32 yrs M Sturt Ck W.A. Husband Abo Eur General hand
Margaret Scott H/C 22 yrs F Turner W.A. Wife Abo Eur nee Margaret Thompson
Limbunya Station
George Sing Poo H/C 35 yrs M Flora Valley W.A. Husband Abo Chin
Ruby Waji Abo 30 yrs F Flora Valley W.A. Wife
Ethel 3/4C 3 yrs F Limbunya Daughter
Florrie 3/4C 2 yrs F Limbunya Daughter
Frida (Frieda?) 3/4C 1 yr F Limbunya Daughter
Wave Hill (Afghan Store)
Calico H/C M Husband Abo Eur Droving
Gudugu Abo 30 yrs F Wife Gurinji Tribe
Bobby 3/4C 8 yrs M Son
Esel 3/4C 6 yrs M Son
Mable (Mabel) H/C 4 yrs F Gudugu (Abo) Frank Spencer (Eur)
Margaret 3/4C 2 1/2 yrs F Daughter
Dina 3/4C 1 1/2 yrs F Wave Hill Daughter
Baby 3/4C 3 mths F Wave Hill Daughter
Victoria River Downs Station
Doug Campbell H/C 28 yrs M V.R.D. Husband Abo Fr. Eur Overseer's offsider
Ida Jing-it Abo 35 yrs F V.R.D. Wife Maringman Tribe
Ruby 3/4C 4 yrs F V.R.D. Daughter
Noel 3/4C 2 yrs M V.R.D. Son
Doreen 3/4C 3 mths F V.R.D. Daughter
Bob Butler H/C 35 yrs M V.R.D. Husband Abo Eur Looking after bore
Doris Won-mali Abo F Wife Mudbura Tribe
Birrimbah Station
Jack Davidson Eur 50 yrs M Eur Eur Drover
Maggie Wo(ra)gir Abo 35 yrs F Wadaman Tribe
Eileen Davidson H/C 6 yrs F . 1.1941 Daughter
Sheila Davidson H/C 1 yr F 10. 4.1946 Daughter
(3) Single Adult Part Aborigines
Name Caste Age Sex Born Birthplace Station Mother Father Remarks
Frank Frith H/C M Wileroo Abo Eur Breaking in horses
Harry Huddleston H/C M Delamere Abo Eur Head stockman
Donald Birch H/C 32 M Fitzroy, WA Auvergne Abo Eur Cook, educated FRM
James Peters H/C 42 M 15.11.1905 Mt Todd Rosewood Abo Ind Saddler
Jack Clark H/C 60 M Renner Springs Rosewood Abo Eur Stockman
George Man Fong H/C 32 M Newcastle Waters Waterloo Abo Chin Head stockman
Dick Smith H/C 45 M WA Limbunya Abo Eur Drover, half-brother to George Sing Poo
Dora H/C 30 F VRD Abo Afghan Works staff house
Part Aborigines on Stations
Part aborigine children in aborigine camps 27 children
Part aborigine families 1 European )
6 Aborigine ) 22 children
11 Part aborigine )
Single adult part aborigines 8 adults
Totals 19 adults 49 children
The part aborigine children in the aborigine camps on the cattle
stations, with the exception of Leslie Humbert at Humbert River, are
receiving no education or help of any sort to prepare them for their
place in the North. Several of the boys who are over 10 years of age
travel around with the stock camps and will eventually become stockmen
on the same level as the aborigine stockmen. The attitude of most
station managers is to treat them as aborigines. It is essential that
these children receive education and training to enable them to fill a
worthwhile place in the North.
This education and training could be given to greatest
advantage on the stations but if the stations are unwilling to
take this responsibility the children should be sent as early as
possible to a Government station able to give the necessary
training or one of the missions. The Anglican Mission at Alice
Springs is probably closest to their district and environment but
has no facilities for training the boys in handicrafts or stock
work or the girls in homecraft.
Patrol Officer G Sweeney, dated 21.10.1947
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