Minute Books, Aborigines Welfare Board

The Aborigines Welfare Board (formerly The Board for the Protection of Aborigines) held weekly meetings from 1890-1915 and then monthly meetings. These volumes comprise minutes of meetings of the Board to its final meeting when the Board was abolished and the Aborigines Welfare Directorate was established. This series has gaps, with periods missing from 1901 to 1905 and 1906 to 1911.

Access Conditions

Due to the sensitive nature of these records access is restricted. Persons wishing to view these records must first contact the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

Records

The minutes note members present and record the decisions of the Board. From 1915 the Minute books begin to include loose documents, such as typed financial statements, important correspondence, transcripts of Board meetings, and notices of Board members and meetings, as well as a record of attendances, and dates of appointments. From 1937, the minutes give the decisions of the Board in point form, followed by a statement of expenditure. Later the minute items usually give a correspondence file number.

• 25 Sep 1890-4 Jul 1901 (4/7108-15; microfilm copy SR Reels 2788-2789)
• 23 May 1905-11 Dec 1906 (4/7116, 4/7118, 4/7120; microfilm copy SR Reel 2790)
• 17 Mar 1910-14 Sep 1938 (4/7119, 4/7117, 4/7121-27; microfilm copy SR Reels 2790-2792)
• 5 Oct 1938-29 Apr 1969 (4/8544-48; microfilm copy SR Reels 2792-2794).

Microfilm Copy: State Records NSW Reel Nos 2788- 2794 available in reading rooms

State Archives and Records Authority of New South Wales also hold separate indexes to the minute books dated 1946 to 1969. The indexes are arranged alphabetically by the matter raised at the meeting, and give the relevant page number and minute book for that meeting. Indexes for earlier meetings were contained within the minute books themselves, and are only separate for the later period. Index books can be accessed via https://search.records.nsw.gov.au/permalink/f/1ednqkf/ADLIB_RNSW110000246