Sackville Reach Aboriginal Reserve facts for kids
The Sackville Reach Aboriginal Reserve was a special area of land set aside for Aboriginal people. It was located along the Hawkesbury River near a town called Windsor in New South Wales, Australia. This reserve was created in 1889 by a government group known as the NSW Aborigines Protection Board. It was a place where some Aboriginal families lived and were supported by the government.
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What Was the Sackville Reach Reserve?
The Sackville Reach Aboriginal Reserve was a designated area of land. The government of New South Wales officially set aside this land for Aboriginal people. Over time, the exact boundaries of the reserve changed. Different parts of the land were used as a reserve from 1896 until 1946.
How Was the Reserve Managed?
The reserve was managed by two main government groups. First, it was overseen by the Aborigines Protection Board from 1889 to 1940. This board was in charge of managing the lives of Aboriginal people in New South Wales. Later, from 1940 to 1946, the reserve was managed by the Aborigines Welfare Board. These boards made many decisions about the people living on the reserve.
Who Lived at Sackville Reach?
Two main families lived at the Sackville Reach Aboriginal Reserve: the Everinghams and the Barbers. These families were an important part of the community there.
The Last Resident
Andrew Barber was a significant person connected to the reserve. He was the son of John Barber, who was a Dharug man, and his mother Ballandella, who was a Wiradjari woman. Andrew Barber was the very last person to live at the Sackville Reach Aboriginal Reserve before it closed.
People Who Helped at the Reserve
Several missionaries helped to supervise the reserve over the years. These were people who came to assist and support the residents. Some of these missionaries included Retta Dixon (from 1901 to 1903), Maud Oldrey (starting in 1903), Annie Lock, and Emily Buttsworth (starting in 1906). In 1910, the Protection Board made a rule that female missionaries could no longer live alone on the reserves.
Remembering the Reserve
Today, there is a special memorial at the site where the reserve once stood. It is an obelisk, which is a tall, four-sided pillar. This memorial was put in place by a person named Percy Gledhill. It has words carved into it that say: 'To the Aborigines of the Hawkesbury for whom this area was originally reserved'. This memorial helps us remember the history of the Sackville Reach Aboriginal Reserve and the Aboriginal people who lived there.
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