Narional Archives of Australia
Darwin Office
CRS F315/0
Item 1949/393A Part 2
Patrol Officers Reports - All Patrol Officers 1949
Report Relative to Mines and Cattle Stations Employing
Native Labour in the Borroloola District
(1) Manangoora Salt Pans
(2) Seven Emus Station
(3) Pungalina Station
(4) Wollogorang Station
(5) Seigal Creek Station
(6) Redbank Copper Mine
(7) Calvert Hill Station
(8) Robinson River Station
(9) Fulche River
(10) MacArthur River Station
(11) O.T. Downs
(12) Tanunbirini Station
(13) Nutwood Downs Station
Copyright P J Mackett, 2005
Report Relative to Mines and Cattle Stations Employing Native Labour in the Borroloola District 16 December 1948
1. Manangoora Salt Pans
Owner - Mr Andre Anderson, aged 62 years
Wife - Violet Anderson F/B, aged 55 years
Children - Andrew Anderson H/C, aged 14 years
Alec Anderson H/C, aged 11 years
The Manangoora Salt Pans are situated on the Wearyan River.
At the time of my inspection on the 8th October 1948, Mr
Anderson was living with a lubra named Violet. He stated he had
been living with this lubra for the last 25 years and that the
above two half-caste boys were his sons. On the 13th December,
1944, Mr White of this Department issued an authority granting
Mr Anderson permission to marry the lubra Violet. When questioned
as to why he had not fulfilled the above obligation he claimed
he still had every intention of marrying Violet. I informed Mr
Anderson that the Reverend Beckett was due to arrive in
Borroloola on the 28th October, 1948. Mr Anderson was married
on the 28th October, 1948, to Violet at Borroloola. The two
half-caste sons are well victualled and clothed. There was a
strong bond of affection between father and sons. Both boys
are mustering cattle on a lease of country on the Fulche River
recently taken up as a grazing licence by their father. He has
made his will in their favour and in the event of his death, if
permission is given for him to adopt his sons, they would inherit
the salt pans. At the present time Alexandria Station in trying
to enter into an agreement with Anderson for the export of his
salt to the Tableland country. If this agreement comes into
force Mr Anderson will be financially independent.
The following natives of the Yanula tribe were employed by
Mr Anderson to work his salt pans :-
Relation Name Native Name
Husband Sam Woondyuki
Wife Maudy Moo-na
Husband Silver Ongu-Willna
Wife Fanny Yoo-na-mere
Single Jackaman Willi-mere
Single Toby Bin-goore
Husband Willie Ack-na-mere
Wife Ida Jilket
Daughter Rosie
The work these natives do consists of raking the salt from
the flat ground of the salt pan and shovelling it into heaps.
The salt is then sieved and bagged. No money is paid to the above
employees but they are well clothed and victualled. In this area
there were, at the time of my inspection, approximately 60 natives
(living a nomadic life). They were camped on the opposite side of
the Wearyan River to Mr Anderson's establishment.
Unfortunately most of this group went bush the moment they
knew the Police were at Marangoora (Constable Barrell who is
Officer-in-Charge, Borroloola Police Station, accompanied me on
patrol as far as Marangoora). I ascertained the following in-
formation from an old lubra named Bundy, also from Mr Anderson.
The group comprises two native tribes, Karara and Yanula.
Of the 60 odd who had run away there were 8 aged and infirm,
approximately 40 males over the age of 14 years and a total of
24 lubras of all ages.
Mamangoora is an old established tribal ground and all the
natives of the Borroloola district visit this country when on
walkabout or holiday period. There is an abundance of native
foods, ie, cycad palm nuts, yams, wallaby, unlimited supplies
of fish, dugong, etc.
In Constable Barrell's presence I questioned various natives
as to why they were frightened of the police and they all stated
that policemen before, evidently 8 to 10 years ago, had always
taken young men away in handcuffs for no apparent reason. Mr
Anderson claimed the Police took these boys away and forwarded
them on to drovers or cattle stations on the Barkly Tablelands
for work. It is quite definite that this practice has not been
carried out for the last few years but the natives in the area
are still very frightened of the Police.
2. Seven Emus Station
Situated 5 miles east of the Robinson River.
Ex-owner Mr Jack Keighran
Present owner Mr Phil Hanlon
Visited on 11th October 1948.
Mr Keighran was at one time married to a lubra named Taylor.
His wife has since died. He has three half-caste children. One,
a lad of 12 years of age, is at present at the Methodist Boarding
School, Thornburgh, Charters Towers, Queensland. The other two
children are approximately 7 years and 5 years respectively, both
boys. Mr Keighran showed me a letter from the Headmaster of
Thornburgh which stated that his son was doing extremely well at
school and also thanked Mr Keighran for the sum of approximately
1000 pounds placed at the headmaster's disposal for the education and
schooling of his son in the future. Mr Keighran expressed the
wish to me that he had intentions of sending his two junior sons
to the same school in a few years' time. He stated that if
possible he would send them to Burketown State School in the very
near future.
Mr Keighran had sold the Seven Emus Station late last year
to Mr Phil Hanlon for the sum of 5000 pounds cash.
Mr Hanlon shifted a mob of 1000 mixed cattle on to the
Barkly Tablelands and sold them for 6 pounds a head to Vesteys. This
sale took place a few months after the sale of the station had
been finalised.
Mr Hanlon's aboriginal licence number is 1326. The names
of the natives he was employing are as follows :-
Relation Name Native Name
Husband Tom Dodd
Wife Taylor
Husband Tommy
Wife Flora
Husband Jingle
Wife Nellie
Son Killomet
Husband Kurrabubba
Wife Lily
Children Phillip, Bill and Elsie
Single Isaac
Single Old Man Lovie
Mt Hanlon does not pay wages to his native employees but
clothes and victuals them and their dependents whilst they are
working on his station. He stated that when he took boys on
droving trips from the Seven Emus Station to the Barkly Tablelands
he paid each boy one pound per week over and above clothing and victuall-
ing. This money is usually spent at the Rankine River Store.
There are approximately 40 natives in the Seven Emus area.
Most of these were away on walkabout and were proceeding to
Manangoora. Mr Keighran told us there were 8 aged and infirm
natives in this area.
Mr Hanlon's head stockman was one Arthur Aplin, an exempt
half-caste 35 years of age. He worked on Wollogorang Station
from 1927 to 1936. During these years of employment he was an
apprentice stockman and later a stockman. The Manager of
Wollogorang Station, Mr McLean, paid money to the credit of
Arthur Aplin to the Aboriginals Trust Account between these dates
but Aplin has never drawn any moneys whatsoever from the Aboriginals
Trust Account.
Aplin asked me if he could draw whatever amount was credited
to him in the Trust Account. He has to his credit in the Trust
Account the sum of 109/19/8 (Lsd).
Arthur Aplin is single and a good type of man with a reputa-
tionthroughout the district as far as Burketown as being an
exceptionally good cattleman and a shrewd businessman. He has
a Savings Bank Account and a credit of approximately 1000 pounds. He
expressed to me his ambition was to own his own property.
3. Pungalina Station
Situated on the Calvert River between Wollogorang Station,
Calvert Hill Station and Seven Emus Station.
Visited on the 14th October, 1948.
Owner - Mr George Anderson
Children - Morgan Anderson H/C, aged 20 years
Hector Anderson H/C, aged 14 years
Lila Anderson H/C, aged 18 years
Ivy Anderson H/C, aged 4 years
Mr Anderson had previously been living for 25 years with a
lubra named Rosie but approximately 4 years ago she ran away with
a male aborigine and is now residing at Doomadgee Mission,
Queensland.
Mr Anderson acknowledged all his family and stated that
he had every intention of looking after them. His two boys had
received schooling at the State School in Burketown. The girl
Lila will be married in the near future to a half-caste Morlin
Attenborough who is an exempt Queensland half-caste at present
working for Mr Anderson. The entire Anderson family were well
clothed and victualled. I informed Mr Anderson that this Depart-
ment would write to him in the near future and advise him as
regards his half-caste children.
Mr Anderson had in his employ the following natives -
Relation Name Native Name
Husband Brownie
Wife Mary
Single boys Bob, Pyro, Rickett, Hooker
I met Mr Anderson at a place called Camel Creek approximately
50 miles from Wollogorang. He was contract mustering for Mr
Campbell of Wollogorang Station for 1000 head of mixed cattle,
spayed cows and bullocks at 5/- per head for the first 500 and
7/6 per head for the second 500.
The half-caste Morlin Attenborough was acting as head stock-
man. All three boys, Attenborough, Morgan Anderson and Hector
Anderson, were a good class of lad and were all recognised as
smart stockmen. Mr Anderson did not pay his natives any wages
but clothed and victualled them very well. At his homestead at
Pungalina he had an exceptionally good vegetable and fruit garden.
The homestead was a well built paper bark house. What yards I
saw on the station were all in good order and strongly built.
Mr Anderson stated that as he was no longer a young man
he will, in the very near future, leave Pungalina to his sons and
daughter and move into Burketown to live. His intentions are to
acquire a small block of land around the BUrketown area. This
will then enable his sons to shift bullocks from Pungalina as
stores, hold them on the Burketown property, then sell them as
fat bullocks.
4. Wollogorang Station
Owner - Wollogorang Pastoral Co
Manager - Mr Campbell
Bookkeeper - Miss Vivian Campbell
Situated approximately 180 miles NW from Burketown.
Arrived 17th October 1948.
Although Mr Campbell stressed that Wollogorang was a Company
I have good reason to believe that in recent months Mr Campbell
has brought the majority of the shares in the station. The area
of Wollogorang Station is 2560 square miles. Of this 2029 square
miles are in the Northern Territory, 535 square miles are in
Queensland. The station homestead is quite a solid building,
built after the Queensland style of country home. Mr Campbell
was previously travelling Manager for Kidman Angas. He has a
reputation as a very shrewd business man and cattle man. His one
object on Wollogorang Station is to sell every procurable beast
on the station and then sell the station. The only improvements
that have ever been carried out on the station were running repairs
to stockyards. This was necessary to enable him to continue his
mustering. He told me that during the past three years he had
shifted 18000 head of mixed cattle, spayed cows and bullocks.
At the time of my inspection he had 3000 mixed cattle in a paddock
close to the homestead. These he intended to shift when the first
storms of the coming wet season fell. The market for his cattle
in the past has been Augustus Downs Station and further cattle
stations south in Queensland. In the past he informed me he had
averaged 6 pounds per head per beast sold.
One exempt half-caste, Jack Shadford, aged 60 years, is
usually given the droving contract to shift the majority of
Campbell's cattle. As Shadford is a very illiterate man I have
no doubt that Campbell exploits him fully. The following are the
particulars of Shadford.
Jack Shadford, aged 60 years
Violet Shadford, wife, aged 40 years
May Shadford H/C, daughter, aged 20 years
Maurice Shadford H/C, son, aged 18 years
Eileen Shadford H/C, daughter, aged 16 years
Angeline Shadford H/C, daughter, aged 12 years
Phyllis Shadford H/C, daughter, aged 7 years
When Shadford is droving his entire family move with the
droving plant as a rule.
The following personnel were employed as stockmen on
Wollogorang Station -
Half-castes
Alex H/C, aged 17 years
Oliver H/C, aged 14 years
Aboriginals
Banjo, single
Echo and wife Minnie - children Eileen, Agnes and Jacob
Bindie and wife Mary
Masterton Jack and wife Fammy - son Johnson
Roger, single
Gregory and two wives Ruby and Annie - child Kathleen
Single girls Nancy and Agnes
Charlie and wife Mona
Conditions of Employment
Stock boys are clothed and victualled and their dependents
are maintained. Clothing consists of an issue to each
individual -
Males - 1 shirt, 1 pr trousers, 1 towel, 1 mosquito net
and 1 blanket. When boots are worn out they are
replaced, 1 razor strop, 1 looking glass, leggings,
spurs, tent fly, overcoat and an issue of tobacco
of 1 1/4 lbs per month.
The lubras are given calico for dresses.
With regard to rations stock boys and working girls receive
cooked meals prepared by the station cook and are as follows :-
Cooked meat, bread, tea and sugar and on rare occasions
jam or syrup.
s
The natives always complained they were hungry. I do not
consider that sufficient meat and bread was given to them. The
dependents receive a weekly supply of rations which consists of :-
6 lbs S.R. flour
1 lb sugar
2 oz tea
1 tin Jam or Syrup
They are allowed to take what is left of the beast after
the station has killed. This usually means they are allowed to
take the intestines and head as very little else is left. In the
way of clothing the dependents are given :-
1 blanket, 1 mosquito net and a tomahawk.
Mr Campbell informed me that he paid all his stock boys
5/- per week. Payments were made monthly. However, when I
questioned the boys they knew nothing whatsoever of payment of
wages, audit was quite apparent they had never received wages.
As Miss Campbell was a very efficient station bookkeeper and
the station books were in perfect order, the fact that no records
whatsoever were kept with regard to the payments for natives is
proof that weekly payments of 5/- were never made. I informed
Mr Campbell that books would have to be maintained for his
aboriginal employees and that these books would be subject to
inspection by visiting Police Officers and Patrol Officers. He
assured me that in the future such books would be kept.
No housing provisions were made. Mr Campbell said this
was quite unnecessary as all his stockmen were issued with tent
flies. This, in my opinion, was quite a good idea. The native
camp was approximately 1/4 mile away from the station homestead
and water had to be carried approximately 1/2 mile. There was no
provision made for bathing, no showers, etc. The native
employees were not allowed to take water from the bore or tank
and had to carry thier water from a small well situated in the
bed of a dry creek.
Mr Campbell had no licence to employ aboriginals for this
financial year and complained bitterly to me that he had sent a
cheque by post under registered mail to the Protector of
Aboriginals, Borroloola, Constable Johnston, last March. The
number of the cheque was C.815485 for the amount of 6/10/6 (Lsd).
This amount included payment for Registration of Firearms, Motor
Vehicles, and Licence to employ Aboriginals. He has received
no correspondence from Mr Johnston. Mr Campbell assuerd me
he was writing to the Superintendent of Police with regard to
this matter. His previous Aboriginal Licence Nos. for the year
1947 were No. 949 and 950.
As Mr Campbell will have already shifted approximately
18000 head of cattle at 6 pounds per head during the last three years,
the bulk of this work being done entirely by native labour, I
consider that he should pay his native stock boys a minimum wage
of at least 15/- to 1 pound a week; bathing facilities should be
erected for his native personnel as there is no permanent water
around the homestead area. As Wollogorang is on the Queensland
border Mr Campbell is the only man in the whole of this area who
can efficiently exploit natives. The remainder of the cattle
stations near Wollogorang are in Queensland and as all the native
stockmen employed on these stations come from Doomadgee Mission
all moneys are paid direct to this Mission. This also includes
stockboys employed in droving. The amounts are for 2/-/- to 2/10/- (Lsd)
weekly to the credit of the native at the Mission.
The Territory natives employed at Wollogorang are not
allowed to be employed on the Queensland cattle stations. They
will not leave Wollogorang because this particular area is their
country and when on walkabout they proceed to Manangoora. There
are approximately a total of 40 natives in the Wollogorang area
and Redbank Mine area.
Maurice Shadford works on Wollogorang Station while his
father is waiting for delivery of a mob of cattle.
The three half-castes, Maurice, Alex and Oliver are all
classified as stockmen and carry out their duties as such. They
work hard and long hours and no attempt has been made to educate
them in any way. They live and eat in the native camp and in
general are treated as an average aboriginal stockman. I can see
no reason why Mr Campbell should not be able to employ these
half-castes as apprentices and provide quarters and better class
of food. Each boy should have a bank account and their weekly
wages paid directly into same.
I would recommend that the half-caste girls, Florine and
Doreen be shifted from the area as it is quite apparent that
nobody is looking after their interests. With regard to Mr
Campbell if he is unwilling to improve conditions for the half-
caste boys employed on his station I would recommend that the
youngest boy, Oliver, be also removed. This boy could possibly
be employed at Beswick Station. To remove these half-castes,
in my opinion, it will be necessary to send an officer into
Queensland per vehicle to Wollogorang Station via Camooweal.
I cannot see how their removal would be effected successfully
in any other way.
5. Seigal Creek Station
Owner - William Norris
Seigal Creek is situated approximately 43 miles South of
Wollogorang Station on the Queensland border.
On my arrival at Seigal Creek there was only one native
at the station homestead. This native's name was Redbank. His
lubra is at present receiving medical treatment at the Brisbane
General Hospital.
Mr Norris had left per horse plant three days previously
for Burketown. On questioning the native Redbank it appeared
that he was the only native employed on the station.
6. Redbank Copper Mine
Owner - Mr W Masterton, aged 77 years
Mr Masterton has been in this area since 1900 and has
continually worked the copper mine throughout this period. He
lives in a very primitive condition, his quarters being located
in a cave. At the time of my inspection Mr Masterton had no
natives in his employ. His last aboriginal licence was held
in 1945. He stated he had not worked any natives since that
date.
Mr Masterton's copper mine has been inspected by engineers
and assayists from the Zinc Corporation, Broken Hill. He told
me that they had reported that there was insufficient ore in the
area to warrant a large company taking control and erecting a
smelter.
There is no doubt that the Redbank mine could be a success-
ful one now if the owner had sufficient capital to become modern-
istic, ie, own a motor truck, pump for sluices, etc.
The isolation of the mine is the greatest handicap to
overcome especially as all the ore has to be shipped to Newcastle,
NSW.
Living near Masterton were the following natives :-
Relation Name Native Name
Husband Old Tommy Yed-ud-era
Wife Judy Kak-a-la
Wife Bella Oong-oona-mura
Living with Mr Masterton in a cave adjoining his was
a young half-caste girl named Florine. This girl's age was
16 years, her mother was the above lubra, Bella. As far as
could be ascertained her father's name was Mr Holmes, address
unknown.
Masterton stated that he had taken this half-caste girl
from the native camp at an early age and had looked after her
interests ever since. He had given her a little education,
clothed and fed her. He requested that I remove the girl as
the residents of the various stations and people in Burketown
claimed that he was living with the girl. I assured Mr
Masterton that the girl would be removed in the very near future
but it was quite impossible for me to take her with me on
patrol as I had over 200 miles to ride to Borroloola. I
questioned Masterton with regard to various rumours I had
heard with reference to the girl Florina working underground.
in one of the mines.
He admitted that she had been underground but claimed
she had only gone down for the adventure and unknown to him
at the time. He stated that he had reprimanded her for doing
this and claimed that the community was only trying to give
him a bad time. I am quite convinced that in the past
Masterton has acted in the best interests of the girl.
Also in the Redbank area were the following natives :-
Relation Name Native Name
Husband Charlie Yal-ar-al
Three wives Maudie Pumyal-border
Mollie Jaya-lla-bina
Violet Kydee-bba
Daughter Maggie Mun-galli
The following half-castes were living in an iron shack
known as Shadford's camp. This house is owned by Jack Shadford.
May Shadford H/C, aged 20 years
Phyllis Shadford H/C, aged 7 years
May Shadford had a daughter Doreen aged 7 years, also
a daughter 4 weeks old, both quarter-caste children.
The father of the second daughter is unknown. The name
of the father of Doreen was alleged to be a stockman by the
name of Billy Cain whose present address is Stapleton Station.
Billy Cain has not a good reputation, he was arrested and
charged with cohabiting, found guilty and served six months
in Alice Springs Gaol.
I consider that Cain should be approached and questioned
as to whether he is the father of Doreen. As he has already
served a sentence for cohabiting there is the possibility he
may admit to being the father.
In the event of this happening he could then be made to
pay an amount each week for the upkeep of the child.
The Shadford girls were living on rations that their
father had sent up from Wollogorang Station.
7. Calvert Hill Station
Owners - McIntosh and Clark
At the time of my inspection it was managed by Mr B Booth.
Calvert Hill Station is situated five miles west of the
Calvert River, approximately 80 miles from Wollogorang. The
homestead consists of paper bark houses which are in a very bad
state of repair. CAlvert Hills Station is recognised as good
cattle country and in the past has produced good bullocks. They
usually shift approximately 400 to 500 head a year. No station
work was being performed at the time of my inspection as Mr
Booth was only a relieving manager while the owners were trying
to locate a more suitable and younger man.
The following natives of the Gurawa tribe were employed at
the Station. These were the only natives in the area -
Husband Dick Cowder-Lowie
Wife Jinny Crown-Ellia
Widow Lena
Daughters Cissy and Kathleen
Two boys Roy and Don
Husband Watermelon Billy Ginginnarie
Lubra Topsy Urow-Nowji
The natives lived on the banks of a billabong in paper bark
humpies. They were well-clothed and victualled.
Mr Booth had no licence to employ aboriginals.
The address of one of the owners is Mr McIntosh, Victoria
Street, Clayfield, Brisbane.
8. Robinson River Station
Owner - Mr Archie McIntyre
Situated 100 miles east of Borroloola.
Arrived 3rd November 1948.
On my arrival at Robinson River Station Mrs McIntyre
informed me that her husband was in Borroloola with a plant of
19 pack horses getting the wet season supplies. Some of the
station employed natives were away on 'holiday period'.
The following natives are employed by Mr McIntyre -
Husband Wife Children
Davey Maudie William (6 years)
Roary Lena Don (15 years)
Gilbert (14 years)
Hilda (13 years)
Lena (12 years)
Doreen (10 years)
Morgan (9 years)
Clown (5 years)
Dulcey (2 years)
Bill Elma No children
Old Roary Bessie No children
Davey Deceased Morris and Athol (twins, 10 years of age)
Billie (single boy)
Curley (single boy)
The above natives were well victualled and clothed. They
were paid no wages but appeared to be happy and contented.
It would appear that in recent years that Mr McIntyre has
lost all interest in the station as very little work has been
done. The majority of the cattle on this run are 'clean-skins'.
There are approximately a total of 30 natives in this area.
Of this number three (3) are aged and infirm.
9. Fulche River
Owner - George Butcher
Situated approximately 68 miles south-east of Borroloola.
Arrived 5th November, 1948.
I located Mr Butcher close to the Robinson River approximate-
ly 50 miles north of the Robinson River Station. At the time of
my inspection he was mustering and had in his camp the following
natives -
Husband Wife Children
Blue Bob Mary No children
Diamond Emilina Peggy (4 years) half-caste
Violet (3 years) full-blood
Baby boy (1 year) half-caste
Noble Rita No children
Lurich China No children
Aged and infirm natives
Billy
Nuggett
Tommy (2 wives) Ruby and Queenie
The above natives were well clothed and victualled. I
questioned Mr Butcher as to who was the father of the two half-
caste children in his camp. He stated that he did not know. The
lubra had come from Borroloola early in the year and he had
employed her consort as stockboy and clothed and maintained the
family.
10. MacArthur River Station
Estate of W Norton.
Manager - Mr Fred Ellis (60 years of age)
Head Stockman - Mr Ray Thompson (30 years of age)
Aboriginal Licence Nos. 1333 and 1335 respectively
Situated half a mile east of the main Anthony's Lagoon -
Borroloola Road approximately 60 miles South of Borroloola.
Arrived 21st November, 1948.
The following stations belong to the estate of W Norton -
Creswell Downs
MacArthur River
Tanunbirini
These stations are all controlled by the Senior Manager,
Mr George Ellis of Creswell Downs.
The homestead at MacArthur River was in a very sad state
of repair. Mr Ellis informed me that new buildings were on
order down south and it was only a matter of waiting for them
to be shipped to Borroloola. I am of the opinion that very
little stock work has been carried out on this station over
the last two years as apparently most of the stockboys spend
the greater portion of their time helping Mr Ellis to poison
dingoes.
The following natives were at the station on my arrival.
They lived in paper-bark huts approximately a quarter of a mile
away from the homestead close to the river bank. They were all
well clothed and victualled and apparently did little work other
tan kill once a week and scalp dingoes. This group of natives
were very happy and contented. No wages were paid to any of the
native employees. Attached is a list of the natives at present
on the MacArthur River Station. The majority of the natives
belonged to the Yanula tribe.
Natives Employed at MacArthur River Station - as at 21st November 1948
Married
Husband Native Name Wife Native Name Children
Fred Manargue Maggie Winoryuki Nil
Rivett Wirnorju Nancy Wirginala Sweeney and Margaret
Sam Mimdorguna Judy Jimmordinga Nil
Willie Mar-ar-ga-li Liddy Wirar-du Phyllis
Tommy Tylar-aur Deana Gor-an-or Nil
Lancon Mor-don-guna Eileen (1) Dug-alai Harry and Jack
Mavis (2) Woor-ungah Nil
Rankine Moor-ad-igali Ludie (1) Mor-gud-ina Nil
Tansey (2) Mom-ba-dooma Nil
Diamond Gul-goomara --------- Willin-boona Nil
John Win-dag-um-brina Elsey Blin-am-ura Henry, Bill, May and Roy
Bruce Munada Jamina Guoy-marlu Nil
Kingsley Goon-di-kuri Maggie Yuron-juri Nil
Single Men
Pharoh Nara-loo (single boy)
Jim Wir-yumba (single boy)
Napper Jell-berry (single boy)
Sidney Jor-gornee (single boy)
Single Girls
Maudie Lim-burru
Alice Nimm-im-buna
Unemployed
Sidney Kin-djn-jarra Kathleen (1) Mar-in-buna Angelene
Rosslyn (2) Mon-gar-lina
Dick Tam-ar-inga Eileen Nary-inja Nil
Aged and Infirm
Old Bob Jun-or-uru
Sambo Milin-di Kitty Ormm-garru
Tommy -------- Rosie Mun-gorlu
------- Un-gum-mali (old Woman) Toolinbuck Nar-an-bu (old man)
------- Jur-a-medu (old woman)
------- Mun-ar-lee (old woman)
------- Mud-jim-marri (old woman)
As far as I could ascertain there were approximately twenty (20) other natives
in this area whom I did not see. This completed the total of all natives in the
MacArthur River area.
11. O.T. Downs
Arrived 22nd November, 1948.
O.T. Downs and Beetaloo Station belong to a group of
half-castes. Both these stations are under the trusteeship of
Bagots Estates (Goldsborough Mort, Adelaide - Agents). The
following are the names of the half-castes who have shares in
the stations -
Hugh Bathern
Wattie Bathern
Duncan Bathern
Peter Bostock
Fanny Bostock
Billy Miller
A European by the name of Mr Tiernan, who lives at
Beetaloo Station, acts as Manager and Bookkeeper for both
stations. On my arrival at O.T. Downs Billy Miller and Hugh
Bathern were the only two of the above half-castes living on
the station. The native stockmen and families lived near a
waterhole approximately a quarter of a mile from the homestead.
The homestead consisted of four Sidney William huts. They were
well clothed and victualled.
The following are the names of all the natives on the
station at the time of my inspection -
Jingla Tribe
Husband Wife Children
Talbot Lucy Bruce, Leo
Tom Juliet Rosie
Yanda Nellie Nil
Frank Liddy Nil
Nipper Sarah Nil
Wallace Doreen Nil
Barney (single boy)
Amellie (single girl)
No wages were paid to any of the native employees.
12. Tanunbirini Station
Estate of W Norton
Manager - Mr Les Ellis (half-caste son of George Ellis of Creswell Downs)
Arrived 23rd November, 1948.
Mr Les Ellis was educated in Alice Springs, is twenty-
four years of age and appears to be a good type of man. At
the time of my inspection he was trapping brumbies approximately
ten (10) miles from the homestead. He had in his camp the
following natives of the Allowia tribe :-
Husband Wife Children
Percy H/C (single boy, 21 years)
Don Harriet Nil
Bruce Minnie Nil
Jimmie Clara Nil
Dashwood Ethel Jack H/C, 1 year old
Roger Rita Kathleen (17 years)
Bobby Lena Nil
Owen Ida Nil
John (single boy)
Whylo (single boy)
Nipper (single boy)
Old Ted (single boy)
Old Friday (single boy)
Old Grannie (single boy)
All the above natives are well victualled and clothed.
Mr Les Ellis could give me no information with regard
to Ethel's half-caste child.
Tanunbirini homestead consisted of two galvanised
iron buildings. This station is really an outstation of
MacArthur River.
13. Nutwood Downs Station
Owney - Vesteys
Manager - Mr James Hood
Bookkeeper -
Head Stockman - Raymond Hood
Arrived 24th November, 1948.
Numbers of Aboriginal Licences -
James Hood 1959
Mrs Hood 1960
Raymond Hood 1961
George Man Fong 1962
The native camp at Nutwood station is located on a stoney
ridge approximately 300 or 400 yards from the station homestead.
As yet no buildings have been erected for the stockboys and
their dependents. No provision for bathing or sanitation had
yet been made. However, all the native stockboys and their
dependents were well clothed and well victualled. At the time
of my inspection these stockboys were not receiving any cash
payments but Mr Hood informed me that he hoped to pay all the
stockboys and working girls a minimum wage of one pound per week within
a matter of weeks. This amount will be over and above
their present working conditions.
The following is an extract from the station books of
rations supplied to aboriginal dependents for the month of
September, 1948 -
8 bags of flour 120 lbs sugar
10 lbs octorize 5 lbs carb soda
5 lbs tobacco 14 dresses
10 lbs tea 4 pkts safety matches
10 tins treacle
Total cost 25/5/3 (Lsd)
The following is an extract from the station books of
rations supplied to working boys on 'holiday period'.
9 bags flour 119 lbs sugar
6 lbs octorize 5 lbs carb soda
4 lbs tobacco 10 lbs tea
6 pkts matches 12 tins treacle
Total cost 15/12/9 (Lsd)
Attached hereto is a list of all natives at Nutwood
Downs Station as at 24th November, 1948.
Natives Employed at Nutwood Downs Station - as at 24th November 1948
Husband Native Name Wife Native Name Children
Hodgson Jat-mad-gee Hagar Goal-ina John, Isaac, baby
Walker Gor-loo-yakie (single boy)
August ------ (single boy)
Tido Burr-um (single boy)
Billy Nar-ra-oo-lamd-gee Ruby Oop-in-ger Nil
Harry Gun-di-yarr-ree Amy Billi-billi Nil
Paddy Nar-lee-yee Gladys Be-bee-jack-ery Nil
Stevens Nar-nee-maeh (single boy)
Nipper Win-dac-oo-loo Fanny Min-yee Nil
Old Nipper ------
Charlie Jar-lning Nancy Wirr-aoa-lyekah Tony, Margaret
Norman Woll-oow-ooloo Priscilla Yin-bee Nil
Dick Dog-mug (single boy)
Albert ? (single boy)
Tommy ? (single boy)
Hodgson boy ? (single boy)
Charlie Wim-im-inar (single boy)
Bun Will-warr-ara Rita Dar-al-ol Tiny, Julie
Frank ? (single boy)
Minnemere Reetch-awoorool Rachel Moon-onn-beema Waratah, Georgina
Gilbert ? (single boy)
Tonson boy ? (single boy)
Robin boy ? (single boy)
Johnnie ? (single boy)
Tavloo ? (single boy)
Billy Fulton H/C (single boy)
Kelley ? Bessie ?
Adric ? Bluebell ?
Aged and Infirm
Frank ? Lucy ?
Kitty ?
Lizzie ?
Norah ?
S H Kyle-Little
Patrol Officer
16.12.1948
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