This final report from the Select Committee of the Legislative Assembly upon Aborigines discusses the 'the causes of the socio-economic deprivations suffered by New South Wales Aboriginal citizens'. 

Select Committee of the Legislative Assembly upon Aborigines, Parliament of NSW, Second Keane Report (Final Report, 15 April 1981)

From the 1850s many Aboriginal people lived on reserves, often in homes they built themselves. From 1909 the reserves were owned by the Aborigines Protection Board, which built huts for housing. The Board sought to use housing as an assimilating tool. The poor condition of housing on reserves was recognised...

Housing on reserves

From the late 1960s, Commonwealth and NSW governments began to focus specifically on housing programs for Aboriginal people. Aboriginal people continued to experience barriers to accessing mainstream public housing.

Aboriginal housing programs begin

From 1909, the Aborigines Protection Board and later the Aborigines Welfare Board had control over the labour of Aboriginal people living on reserves and could remove people from reserves if they determined they should be working off the reserve. Labour on reserves was often for no pay, unfair pay or...

Adult labour under the Aborigines Protection Act

From 1909 to 1969, the Aborigines Protection Board and later the Aborigines Welfare Board could remove certain Aboriginal children from their families under the Aborigines Protection Act. These children were placed in training homes and apprenticeships. Apprenticeships were used to separate Aboriginal children from their communities and assimilate them into...

Document

Select Committee of the Legislative Assembly upon Aborigines, Parliament of NSW, Second Keane Report (Final Report, 15 April 1981)

Housing on reserves

Aboriginal housing programs begin

Adult labour under the Aborigines Protection Act

Child labour under the Aborigines Protection Act