Aborigines on Pastoral Properties

Containers:

Box 17, 18, 19

Component identifier:

Series 6

Content Summary:

This series covers the work of the Department of Interior review of the working conditions, health, welfare and social conditions of Aborigines on pastoral properties in the Northern Territory. The committee consisted of Gibb as Chairman, H. C. Coombs, Chairman, Council for Aboriginal Affairs, W. E. L. de Vos, Secretary Northern Territory Cattle Producers Council, J. Taylor, anthropologist, Queensland Institute Medical Research, C. Roberts, 'Aboriginal with experience as an employee in the pastoral industry', and E. Milliken, Director of Research, Welfare Division, Northern Territory Administration. The review in part stemmed from the 1968 Commonwealth Arbitration Commission decision that 'the time has come when Aborigines are entitled to award protection'. Geographically, the work of Gibb's Committee covered four districts, Alice Springs, Barkly Tablelands, Victoria River and Darwin/Gulf districts.

The series includes legislation and reports relevant to Aboriginal education, employment, health and housing; copies of the Department of the Interior Northern Territory Newsletter and other publications, reports issued by Abschol (National Union of Australian Students Aboriginal Scholarship Scheme during 1969 and 1970 concerning 'the conflict between the Government-Vestey side and the Gurindji tribe over Wattie Creek land rights'), and a copy of an address delivered by Coombs to the Anthropological Society of Western Australia, April 1971); census material, submissions and transcripts of interviews with pastoralists, cattle industry and other representatives. There are reports, research and correspondence concerning employment, training, health and welfare options, together with copies of the Committee's findings. Copies of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs subsequent report, 'Community Development in Pastoral Areas' forwarded to Gibb by Coombs in 1975, and a 1973 article in the anthropological journal Mankind regarding the work of the Committee are also held.

Papers relating to Abschol, 1965-70, are held by the National Library at MS 2592.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Gibb's wife Margaret donated the papers to the Library in 1994.

Access and use