The Bungalow was established in 1914 in an iron shed by the local Protector of the town of Stuart, now Alice Springs, to provide shelter for Topsy Smith, an Aboriginal woman and her children. It became an official institution in 1915 when a matron was appointed. The Bungalow moved to Jay Creek, west of Alice…
The Queen of the Holy Rosary Mission, also known as Old Uniya, was established by Jesuit missionaries on the Daly River in 1886. Although missionaries aimed to educate and convert children, no dormitories were established. The mission closed in July 1891 and was reopened at a new location a few months later. It was then…
The Hermannsburg Mission was established on the banks of the Finke River by Lutheran missionaries from the Hermannsburg Missionary Society and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia in 1877. It was the last and longest-running Mission run by the Lutheran Church in Australia. A School House was built at the Mission in 1896 and separate…
Milingimbi Mission was established in 1923 by the Methodist Missionary Society of Australasia, later known as the Methodist Overseas Mission, on Milingimbi Island. The Mission operated a dormitory for boys until the mid 1930s. A school was run at the Mission from 1935. During World War II the Milingimbi Mission was bombed twice by the…
The Goulburn Island Mission was established in 1916 by the Methodist Missionary Society of Australasia, later known as the Methodist Overseas Mission. It was located on South Goulburn Island. Dormitories for children operated until the mid-1930s and children attended a Mission school. Control of the Mission was handed to the local Aboriginal Community in 1973….
Rose River Mission, also known as Numbulwar Mission, was established by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) on the East Coast of Arnhem Land in 1952. It was the fourth of five missions run in the Northern Territory by the CMS. A school for Aboriginal children was run at the Mission. In 1978 a Community Council…
Oenpelli Mission was established by the Church Missionary Society in 1925 at the site of the Government run Oenpelli Aboriginal Reserve. Situated in the Alligator River District the Mission provided accommodation, education, medical care and religious instruction to Aboriginal children. Dormitories for Aboriginal children operated at the Mission until the mid 1950s. In 1975 control…
Groote Eylandt Mission was established by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in 1921 at Emerald River on Groote Eylandt. By 1924 it operated a school and dormitories for Aboriginal children from the mainland. From 1933 most children were sent to Roper River Mission and the Groote Eylandt Mission worked more with the local Aboriginal community….
Roper River Mission was established in 1908 by the Church Missionary Society at Mirlinbarrwarr. It included a school and dormitories for Aboriginal children aged 5 to 18 years. Between 1924 and 1933 some children were moved between Roper River and Groote Eylandt Missions. After severe floods in 1940 the Mission moved to Ngukurr. During World…
The Northern Territory Native Industrial Mission was established in 1899 at Karparlgoo on the South Alligator River in Western Arnhem Land. It was founded while the Northern Territory was administered by the South Australian Government and was supported by an Adelaide Church of England parish, St Luke’s, Whitmore Square. Although records show definite intentions to…