Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1909-01-01 - 1920-01-01 (Creation)
- 1907-01-01 - 1920-12-31 (Accumulation)
Level of description
Medium
Format
Status
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
In 1909, the Aborigines and Fisheries Departments were amalgamated into one agency, the Department of Aborigines and Fisheries. This was partly due to financial constraints and partly due to the expediency of running as one the two departments whose interests lay mainly in the northern part of the State.
After World War I, the Department was abolished and its functions pertaining to Aboriginal affairs south of the 25th parallel, as well as to fisheries throughout the State, were taken over by the Fisheries Department.
Charles Frederick Gale was appointed the second Chief Protector of Aborigines on 1 October 1908. He undertook this position together with that of the Chief Inspector of Fisheries. In 1911, Frederick Aldrich was appointed Chief Inspector of Fisheries and Gale's duties were limited to that of Chief Protector of Aborigines. Gale was dismissed from office in 1915 at an age of 54, ostensibly as an "excess officer" and was vindicated by a Royal Commission appointed to inquire into his dismissal.
Auber Octavius Neville (Secretary of the Immigration Department since 1911) was appointed as Gale's successor on 7 May 1915.
Repository
Archival history
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Registers to departmental files. The registers are arranged in various sequences as reflected in the item list, but essentially they acted as a control record (recording subject or file title and the file number) for departmental files.
(registers in this Record Series were previously listed at the State Records Office at reference: AN 1/3; Accession 650).