A history of the Wiradjuri people of New South Wales 1883-1969
Abstract
This thesis is a study of the modern history of the Wiradjuri
people of New South Wales. An introductory chapter reviews the
period between the early E~ropean incursions into Wiradjuri
country and the establishment of the Aborigines Protection Board
in 1883. The central seven chapters describe the period between
1880 and the abolition of the Aborigines Welfare Board (as it
became known in 1940) in 1969. Because the history of the
administration of Aboriginal policy in New South Wales has not
been fully described elsewhere, consideration of that policy as
it affected all Aborigines in the s~ate is made where necessary.
The main narrative concerns the inter-action between the
Wiradjuri and official policy and at various points also an
attempt is made to describe Wiradjuri attitudes and preceptions.
The most important sources used are the records of the
administration held in the State Archives and the recollections
of Wiradjuri people interviewed, and where possible, recorded.
In the 24 years between the ending of the Second World War and
1969, Wiradjuri perceptions and expectations diversified
considerably and the final chapter, which reviews the period
1969-1979, indicates some of the implications of the post-war
diversity.