The Community Services Department was established on 31 May 1984, when the Community Services (Aborigines) Act 1984 and the Community Services (Torres Strait) Act 1984 were passed. It was previously known as the Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement Department, with the new department the policy was changed to promote equal opportunity in the Queensland Community for…
The Bloomfield River Mission was situated on the Bloomfield River in the Daintree region, north of Cooktown. It was on the site of the old Bloomfield River Mission (1887-1902). Run by the Lutheran Church, it opened in 1957. On 16 February 1980, the Bloomfield River Mission was officially renamed Wujal Wujal. Bloomfield River Mission, was…
Please contact the Archivist, Catholic Diocese of Cairns: Address: PO Box 625, Cairns QLD 4870 Phone: (07) 4051 2071 Email: cathedral@cairns.catholic.org.au Website: https://cairns.catholic.org.au/contact
The Catholic Diocese of Cairns came into being on 8 July 1941. (Previously it was known as the Vicariate Apostolic of Cooktown). The Archives of the Catholic Diocese of Cairns are located at Bishop House.
The Director Of Native Affairs Office was responsible for the welfare of Queensland’s Aboriginal population who were deemed to be State Wards. Replacing the Chief Protector of Aboriginals Office, it was established in 1939 under the Aboriginals Preservation and Protection Act 1939. This Act represented a change in government policy from one of ‘protection and…
The Chief Protector of Aboriginals Office, established in 1904, was responsible for the welfare of Queensland’s Aboriginal population who were deemed to be State Wards. The Chief Protector operated according to a policy of separation and segregation in relation to Aborigines placed under State control. From 1898 to 1904, the protection system in Queensland had…
The Aboriginal and Island Affairs Department, which was previously called the Office of the Director of Native Affairs, was established in 1966. The Department managed the affairs of Queensland’s Aborigines who were deemed to be ‘assisted’ Aborigines or State Wards. Government policy at this time was stated as one of ‘complete equality’. The term ‘assisted’…
Mitchell River Mission, at Trubanaman, was established by the Church of England in 1905. In 1918 the mission relocated to a site on Magnificent Creek and was given the name Kowanyama (however, for many years after this move it was still referred to as Mitchell River Mission). In 1966, the Anglican Church approached the government…
Kowanyama Mission was previously known as the Mitchell River Mission (although it had been given the name Kowanyama – meaning ‘many waters’ in 1917). In 1966, the Anglican Church approached the government to take control of the Mitchell River Mission. The dormitories closed in April 1967 and control of the Mission was handed over to…
St Brigid’s Industrial School Records consist of ‘anecdotal history’ about the institution and its staff. For example, there is information and names of Sisters who resided there, photographs, some original accounts, receipts. According to the publication A Piece of the Story (1999), no original documents regarding admissions or employment exist. Access Conditions Access to records…