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List of Aboriginal missions in New South Wales facts for kids

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Aboriginal missions in New South Wales were special areas of land. Many Aboriginal people were made to live there. This happened because of government laws and rules. Churches and religious people set up and ran these missions. They had a lot of control over daily life. More than ten missions were created in NSW between 1824 and 1923. Living on missions meant Aboriginal people could not go to their traditional lands. They lost access to hunting grounds and sacred places. Their family connections, called kinship systems, were also broken up.

What Were Aboriginal Missions?

Aboriginal missions were places where Aboriginal people were forced to live. These places were often far from their homes. The main goal of the missions was to teach Aboriginal people Christian religion and Western ways of life. This was based on ideas from a British report in 1837. This report suggested protecting Aboriginal people and teaching them religion.

Who Ran the Missions?

Most missions were run by Christian churches. Their religious teachings and Western values strongly shaped life for the people living there. In New South Wales, some missions were not linked to just one church. These included the United Aborigines Mission (UAM) and the Australian Inland Mission (AIM). The United Aborigines Mission even had a magazine called the Australian Aborigines Advocate. It shared stories about their work.

Life on the Missions

Life on the missions was very different from traditional Aboriginal life. People were often told what to do and how to live. They had to follow strict rules set by the missionaries. This meant they could not practice their own culture or speak their own languages. It also meant they were separated from their families and communities. This caused a lot of sadness and loss for Aboriginal people.

List of Missions in New South Wales

Many missions were set up across New South Wales. Here are some of them:

  • Apsley Mission (around 1839) – A private mission.
  • Blake's Fall Mission (1832) – Started by the Church Missionary Society.
  • Bomaderry Aboriginal Mission (1908–1988) – Run by the United Aborigines' Mission.
  • Bowraville Aboriginal Mission and School (1923) – A Roman Catholic mission.
  • Brewarrina Aboriginal Mission (1886–1967) – Also known as Brewarrina Mission Station. Run by the United Aborigines' Mission.
  • Goulburn Island Mission Station (1916) – Run by the Methodist Church.
  • Lake Macquarie (Ebenezer) Aboriginal Mission (1824–1841) – Run by the London Missionary Society.
  • La Perouse Aboriginal Mission (1885) – Run by the United Aborigines Mission.
  • Maloga Aboriginal Mission Station (1874–1894).
  • Parramatta Aboriginal Mission (1820–1828) – Run by the Church of England.
  • St Clair Aboriginal Mission (1893–1923) – Also called Singleton Aboriginal Mission. It was later renamed Mount Olive Reserve. Run by the Aborigines' Inland Mission.
  • Sydney Aboriginal Mission.
  • Warangesda Aboriginal Mission (1879–1920) – Run by the Church of England and the Australian Board of Missions.
  • Wellington Valley Aboriginal Mission (1832–1842) – Run by the Church Missionary Society.

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