Mission Stations in the 19th Century

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During the nineteenth century many mission stations were established around Australia. The intent of these mission stations was to ‘civilise’ the Aboriginal people. This was attempted through food rations, housing and Christianity. Children were often removed from families with the hope of educating them easily. The lasting effects of mission stations may never be completely understood. However; the destruction of Indigenous languages, banning of cultural practices, and separation from family members are just a few of the devastating outcomes the Aboriginal people were faced with. Most mission stations were created with the purpose of changing the Aboriginies whole way of life. Government officials and church officials hoped that through providing a place to live and food rations the Aboriginies would become civilised Christians who were well educated in the Western values and lifestyle. The offering of food and shelter was sometimes and incentive for Aboriginies to go onto mission stations as they were being pushed more and more off their lands by settlers. The effects that the settlers had on the Aboriginal’s lands often led to dwindling numbers in their usual food supplies. In Victoria in 1860, the Central Board for the Protection of Aboriginies was created. ¹ This was due to the massive decline in the Indigenous population, public pressure and rapid colonial expansion. This Board oversaw the establishment of four major church mission stations. The life of mission stations was still not desired by all Aboriginies. And, in 1886, the Aboriginies Protection Law Amendment Act allowed the removal of Koorie people that were not fully of Indigenous ancestry, from the mission stations. This was an attempt to force them into mainstream Australian life, and a political attempt at dispersing the resistance to mission life. ¹ Anna Haebich, Broken
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