1901

Federation - The Commonwealth Constitution states "in reckoning the numbers of people... Aboriginal natives shall not be counted".

It also states that “The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to:….The people of any race – other than the Aboriginal Race, for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws"
The states therefore retain their power over Aboriginal Affairs.

‘Immigration Restriction Act’ forbids immigration of non-white races. It is more commonly known as the ‘White Australia Policy’. The thinking behind it relates to many policies that affect Aboriginal people.: For example, “Isaac Isaacs (MP and later Chief Justice of High Court, and Governor General) said: “I am prepared to do all that is necessary to ensure that Australia shall be free for all time from the contamination and the degrading influence of inferior races" This same thinking was to contribute to policies of forced removal of children to ‘breed out’ Aboriginality.

1905

The Western Australia Aborigines Act is passed (based on the 1897 Act of Queensland). The Act legalised the removal of Aboriginal children from their parents and natural families, encouraged establishment of reserves and missions, and introduced many restrictive measures. 1908 The Invalid and Old Age Pension Act provides social security for all Australians except Aborigines.

1909–10

NSW introduces The NSW Aborigines Act following crises in public schools. Aboriginal schools are established in NSW during the early part of the 20th century. Exclusion of Aboriginal children from public schools followed requests by the European community. In NSW, there are 22 Aboriginal schools in 1910, 35 in 1920 and 40 in 1940. The syllabus stresses manual activities and the teacher is usually the reserve manager's untrained wife.

The Act also made it illegal for 'half castes' to live on reserves. In 1915 and 1918 amendments to the Act give the NSW Aborigines Protection Board greater powers to remove children for training as domestic servants.

1910

The Victorian Aborigines Act permitted the Board for Protection of Aborigines to help 'half castes' by licensing needy persons to live on stations.

The Aborigines Protection Board Act is passed which gives the Protection Board 'legal' control over Aborigines on stations and reserves but not missions, in the Northern Territory.

1911

The South Australian Aboriginal Act is this state's first legislation relating directly to Aborigines, and gives the state similar powers as exist in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

1912

Maternity Allowance is introduced but does not include Aboriginal people.

1915

A.O. Neville appointed chief protector of Aborigines in WA. He was a leader in racial thinking that justified the selective ‘breeding out’ of Aboriginality. He worked towards a time when society would be one without 'half-castes'. He called his scheme 'the breeding out of colour', a process called miscegenation. He used the 1905 Act to allow him to dictate who Aboriginal people could marry, and what children could stay with their parents.

1915

Carrolup Native Settlement opened in Western Australia, and people forced to live there.

1918

Moore River Native Settlement opened in Western Australia, and people forced to live there. Like many other settlements and missions, Carrolup and Moore River were central in the strategies of forced removal of children.

1918

The Queensland Government establishes an Aboriginal station - Palm Island - in the Palm Isles.

The Northern Territory Aboriginal Ordinance Act "ensured that Aborigines could not drink or possess or supply alcohol or methylated spirits, could not come within 2 chains of licensed premises, have firearms, marry a non-Aborigines without permission or have sex across the colour line".

The Ordinance also forbids mining on Aboriginal Reserve Land.

1920

Groote Eylandt, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, is named an Aboriginal Reserve. A number of missions have been established here.

Aboriginal population of Australia is estimated to be 60 000. It is widely believed to be a 'dying race'.

1927

The Royal Commission into the Killings and Burning of Bodies of Aborigines in East Kimberley’ was held in response to public outcry over the 1926 Forrest River Massacre.

1928

Conniston Massacre in the Northern Territory. Europeans shoot 32 Aborigines after a European Dingo trapper, and a station holder are attacked by Aborigines.

A court of inquiry says the Europeans' action was 'justified'. Aborigines are refused legal aid by the Federal Government.

Some reserves are leased to non-Aboriginal settlers in Victoria.

1929

Royal Commission on the Constitution ‘recognises that the effect of the treatment of Aborigines on the reputation of Australia furnishes a powerful argument for a transference of control to the Commonwealth’.

1930

Victorian William Cooper, petitions the King to have an Aboriginal representative in the Lower House of Federal Parliament. A similar attempt is made in NSW. They are unsuccessful.

Gradual change occurs in attitudes of non-indigenous people. Passive policies become more positive. Welfare Organisations and anthropologists become more active.

1934

The Arnhem Land Reserve is declared.

Mosely Royal Commission in Western Australia into the Treatment of Aboriginal people, mainly in response to allegations of brutality, ongoing massacres and slavery in the pastoral regions. This led to the 1936 act – even more oppressive controls.

1936

The WA Native Administration Act 1936 resulted in strict controls for Aboriginal people including the penalisation for actions, which were not considered an offence for non-Aboriginal people. Aboriginal people required permits for entry into certain towns and for employment.

1937

At a conference of state and federal officials called by the Federal Government, assimilation for some Aborigines is adopted as official policy. Part Aborigines are to be assimilated into white society whether they want to be or not, Aborigines not living a tribe life are to be educated and all others are to stay on reserves.

William Ferguson, launches in Dubbo, NSW, the Aborigines Progressive Association, in opposition to the Aborigines Protection Board, after officials of the Board had arbitrarily used their powers to harass Aboriginal people.

1938

On 26 January, 150 years after European occupation, the Aboriginal Progressive Association declares a Day of Mourning. An Aboriginal Conference is held in Sydney. These are the first of many Aboriginal protests against inequality, injustice, dispossession of land and protectionist policies.

NSW Government changes Aboriginal policy from protection to assimilation following the 1937 conference.

December, Albert Namatjira holds his first exhibition in Melbourne, of 41 works. All works are sold in three days.

1939

Protest at Cumeroogunga, NSW, over malnutrition and ill treatment.

The Aborigines Protection Board in South Australia is established.

As a result of the 1937 conference Queensland passes legislation allowing Aborigines to receive workers' compensation. Also as a result of this conference a Native Affairs Branch is set up in the Northern Territory.

1940

Amendments to the NSW Aborigines protection legislation results in the replacement of the Aborigines Protection Board with the NSW Aborigines Welfare Board (after campaigning from Aborigines Progressive Association). Responsibility for Aboriginal Education is transferred to the Department for Education, which takes control of reserve buildings and started to provide trained teachers.

In the 1940s most Federal social security benefits are extended to Aborigines.

Increased mining developments in the 1940s in Western Australia brings protest from Aboriginal people concerned about their land. This lays the basis for the Pindan movement which was to grow from the 1946-49 strike by Aboriginal pastoral workers.

1941

The Child Endowment Act is passed but no endowment is paid to nomadic or dependent Aborigines.

1941

The numbers and power of district protectors in Western Australia is increased.

1942

Darwin is bombed by the Japanese. Many Aboriginal people are relocated to 'control camps' and restrictions are places on Aboriginal movement, especially women. In Arnhem Land Aboriginal people make up special reconnaissance unit in defence against the Japanese.

1943

A further amendment to the Aboriginal protection legislation in NSW, gives two Aboriginal people - one 'full-blood' and one 'half caste' - representation on the Aboriginal Welfare Board. Walter Page and William Ferguson, both Aboriginal Progressive Association members, take up the positions.

1944

Education Gazette, NSW, states "children of any Aborigine securing an Exemption Certificate (i.e. Exemption from being Aboriginal by law) are to be admitted to the ordinary public school".

1944

The WA Natives (Citizenship Rights) Act 1944 gave limited rights to Aboriginal people who could prove, among other things that they have adopted a 'civilised life' and, most cruelly, did not associate with Aboriginal people who did not have citizenship rights (except immediate family). Some Commonwealth benefits (unemployment, sickness, child endowment, old age, etc) were available to these ‘detribalised’ people.

1944

First Aboriginal pastoralists strike in the Pilbara.