Victoria: Protectors' reports


The Aboriginal Protection Act 1869 was the first colonial law to establish a comprehensive system of control over the lives of Aboriginal people. The Aboriginal Protection Act 1886, known as the ‘half-caste’ Act, commenced a policy of forcibly removing Aboriginal people of mixed descent from Aboriginal stations and reserves in Victoria. This inhumane policy of separating families created widespread distress and dislocation, and led to the Aborigines Act 1910 which reversed some of these policies. For more information, click here

The Victorian government agencies responsible over time were:

These agencies kept detailed records which are held at the Public Record Office of Victoria (PROV) who have produced a guide to their holdings.

The policies and practices of these agencies controlled nearly all parts of Aboriginal people’s lives in Victoria, from the removal of children, rations, access to health, education, employment and housing of Aboriginal people on stations and reserves.

Annual reports were published from 1860 onwards, but the Board for the Protection of Aborigines failed to report with gaps from 1912-1922 and 1926 until 1957, when the Aborigines Welfare Board came into existence.


Users are warned that these documents may contain words or descriptions which reflect the author's attitude or that of the period in which the item was written. These may be considered inappropriate today in some circumstances. Users should also be aware that these reports contain images and other references to deceased people which may cause sadness or distress, particularly to the relatives of these people.


Central Board appointed to watch over the interests of the Aborigines in the Colony of Victoria:


The Board for the Protection of the Aborigines in the Colony of Victoria :

1956-57 - Report upon the operation of the Aborigines Act 1928 and the Regulations and orders made thereunder


Report of the Aborigines Welfare Board for the year ended 30th June:

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