• About this Archives in Brief
• Background
• School files 1876-1979
• School files 1881+, NRS 3931
• Other sources
• Note on the content of some records
• Contacts
• Access

The purpose of this AIB is to outline the main records held by State Records relating to Aboriginal Schools.

For further information

Other records may be identified in A Guide to NSW State Archives relating to Aboriginal People, Archives Investigator, and State Records' other finding aids.

The establishment of separate Aboriginal Schools in New South Wales led to the creation of records dealing almost exclusively with the primary education of Indigenous children.

Governor Macquarie founded the first school for Aboriginal children, the Native Institution, in 1814. Located in Parramatta it operated until 1822 when it was succeeded by the Native Institution at Blacktown, which closed in c.1830. Records relating to the Native Institutions can be found in the Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1825 and in Archives Investigator listed under Agency No. 401, Trustees of the Clergy and School Lands.

Education for all children in New South Wales became compulsory in 1880 with the proclamation of the Public Instruction Act. Initially the Act supported one public school system. Over time social attitudes, supported by the policies of the Department of Public Instruction, led to the establishment of separate Aboriginal Schools. Early policies supporting segregation permitted Aboriginal children to attend the local school only if they were adequately dressed and well fed, or 'clean, clad and courteous'1. The practice of separating Aboriginal children from the non-Aboriginal local school system was illustrated in 1902 with the 'exclusion on demand' policy. The then Minister of Education gave instructions to schools in NSW to remove Aboriginal children upon the request of white parents. The removal of Aboriginal children from local schools created a continuing need for separate Aboriginal Schools.

[1] J.J. Fletcher (1989) Clean, Clad and Courteous: A History of Aboriginal School Education in New South Wales. Southwood Press, New South Wales pp.8 & pp.61

School files generally contain the following information: applications for the establishment of schools; the school's progress and physical provision; and information on teachers. The following list of Aboriginal schools has been extracted from the full list of School files, 1876-1979. It includes all of the Aboriginal Schools run by the Department of Public Instruction (later Education, now the Department of Education and Training).

Go to the complete list of Aboriginal Schools

This list of Aboriginal schools has been extracted from the full list of School files, 1876-1979.

NRS 3931 In addition to the School files, schools created a variety of other records. These include:

• Admission registers record the admissions and departures of children. They record: personal details; date of leaving last school; and details of parent or guardian
• Examination books record pupils' examination results including subject, place in grade as well personal details.
• Observation books consist of inspectors' general observations on the operations of the school. They do not generally contain mention of individual pupils.
• Programme and lesson registers list of the lessons and curriculum which were followed by various classes in a school. They cover the whole range of subjects taught to a particular class.
• Punishment books consist of details of punishments meted out to pupils. They provide: name; age; nature of offence; amount of punishment; instrument of punishment; and by whom inflicted.
• Visitors' books record the names of any visitors and any remarks made by the visitor such as 'incidental visit', 'ordinary inspection', or 'very pleasant afternoon'.

The following list is of School Records NRS 3931 held for those Aboriginal Schools administered by the Department of Education and Training.

For more records relating to Aboriginal people, researchers should consult A Guide to New South Wales State Archives relating to Aboriginal People, available in State Records' reading rooms. Another useful source is Archives in Brief 26: Schools 1788-c.1979, which provides a brief history of public education in NSW.

Researchers should be aware that the records may contain language, descriptions and opinions which reflect the author's attitude or that of the period in which the records were written. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may consider some of the records to be inappropriate and offensive.

For more information on State Records relating to Aboriginal people please contact the Project Officer - Aboriginal Liaison on (02) 8247 8609 or email Archivist - Aboriginal Liaison.

Punishment books are closed to public access for 50 years. All other records more than 30 years of age and listed in this Archives in Brief are open to public access. For information on how to access the records please contact State Records.

Researchers should consult the Register of Access Directions to confirm the public availability of records. State Records' staff can advise you on the availability of records if they are not listed on the register.

© State of New South Wales through the State Records Authority, 2003.
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