Governor Macquarie’s Interest in the Civilisation of Aborigines

Introduction
  
Following Governor Macquarie’s declaration dated 1 November 1816 which announced the cessation of hostilities against aborigines, he initiated actions to build on his establishment of the Native Institution to facilitate the civilisation of the Aborigines. It appears he attempted to control the structure of the aboriginal tribes by declaring certain aborigines as tribal leaders. To further encourage their integration into the British way of life in the Colony he granted small allotments of land to selected aborigines so that they could become self sufficient and to stop their nomadic lifestyle, and thus be an example to their fellow tribe members.
   
While these methods may have been well intentioned, the Rev. Cartwright, in his letter dated 11 January 1820 to Governor Macquarie on the aboriginal issues, clearly sets out the failure of the Governor’s initiatives. In response he proposed an action, which Governor Macquarie endorsed, of establishing a Native Institution on the outskirts of settled civilisation which would essentially amount to a containment of the aboriginal tribes who had been driven from their ancestral lands by the ever increasing British settlements.
   
The following records from Series One, Volume Ten of the Historical Records of Australia [published by The Library Committee of the Commonwealth Parliament, 1917] is reproduced (with minor editorial amendments by History Services NSW) to document the actions of Governor Macquarie and Rev. Cartwright to the aboriginal issues:


• Governor Macquarie’s Land Grants to Aborigines
 
• 24/3/1819 - Governor Macquarie Dispatch to Earl Bathurst
  
• 31/5/1819 - Government and General Order regarding Journey of Charles Throsby from the Cow Pastures to Bathurst [excerpt only]
  
• The South Creek Chief
  
• 24/2/1820 - Dispatch of Governor Macquarie to Earl Bathurst
  
• 18/1/1820 - Letter from Reverend Robert Cartwright to Governor Macquarie [excerpts only].

Back to  Governor Macquarie’s Interest in the Civilisation of Aborigines - Index of Resources

Back to Index of Resource Materials

History Services NSW will consider undertaking further searches of its databases to accommodate any special research requests. Please email your request.

Kevin McGuinness

© HISTORY SERVICES NSW