The terms: missions, stations and reserves 1800-1969

The terms missions, stations and reserves are often used interchangeably. This subject explains how the Towards Truth website uses these terms.

The terms missions, stations and reserves have had particular meanings over time.

On the Towards Truth website, ‘reserves’ refers to any land set aside by government for use by Aboriginal people.

At different times, reserves have included some missions and stations.

Even after reserves were officially ended and transferred to the Aboriginal Lands Trust (SUB0540) and then to Aboriginal Land Councils (see SUB0541), many people continue to call these areas reserves or missions.

Missions

Missions were established by missionary societies or individuals and run by missionaries.

Missions were established both on land granted by the government and on privately held land.

Missions operated differently depending on the individual missionary and the organisation that sent and supervised them.

Some missions later became stations under the control of the Aborigines Protection Board. Information about the government’s role in missions is in SUB0549.

Reserves

Reserves were parcels of land set aside for the use of Aboriginal people by the government.

When they were first created (in the 1800s), these reserves were not officially managed by the government. Land was often reserved in response to dispossession and Aboriginal people's demands for land.

Later, the Aborigines Protection Board became the owner of all reserves. Some reserves were ‘stations’ and had on-site management by the Board. Other reserves were not managed, but were overseen by Board officials including local police officers.

Information about reserves and their management is in SUB0504, SUB0273, SUB0367, SUB0275 and SUB0299.

Stations

Stations were a type of reserve established by the Aborigines Protection Board and managed by station managers appointed by the Board. Stations were sometimes known as ‘managed reserves’.

Education, rations and housing were usually provided to Aboriginal people living on stations.

Some stations had originally been missions before the Board took over their management.

Information about stations is in SUB0273.