VPRS 10 Inward Registered Correspondence to the Superintendent of Port Phillip District, relating to Aboriginal Affairs

This series contains the inward registered correspondence to the Superintendent of the Port Phillip District exclusively related to aboriginal affairs during the period of the Protectorate system. Correspondence covers all aspects relating to the administration of aborigines and relating to daily life on aboriginal reserves / stations. The majority of the correspondence is from the Chief Protector of Aborigines (G A Robinson), Assistant Protectors (Thomas, Parker, Le Souef, Dredge and Sievewright) and Medical Officers / Dispensers attached to the reserves. A wide variety of subjects is covered including the daily administration of the Protectorate system (appointments, dismissals, requisitions), crime by aborigines, crime against aborigines by white settlers, reports and returns of the Protectorate districts and movements of aboriginal tribes and groups. Also included is correspondence regarding the suspension of Assistant Protector Sievewright and the dismissals of Assistant Protector Le Souef and Doctor Baylie. Other correspondence relates to the Buntingdale Aboriginal Mission and the Merri Creek Aboriginal School. Correspondence from the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales provides information regarding government policy with respect to aborigines whilst correspondence from the Crown Lands Commissioners and the Surveyor-General provides information on the land aspect - the granting of land for Reserves, boundary disputes and surveys of the reserves. Correspondence consists of cream and blue paper folders and single pages. At the front of each letter is recorded the date of registration (in VPRS 18), the registration number and a summary of the subject of the letter. Researchers are advised to use VPRS 10 in conjunction with VPRS 19 Correspondence Inwards, VPRS 11 Unregistered Correspondence to the Chief Protector of Aborigines and VPRS 4410 . For the period 1847 to 1851 any correspondence relating to the land aspect of aboriginal administration was administered by the Land Branch of the Superintendent's Office and these records may also be consulted. VPRS 44 Inward Registered and Unregistered Correspondence contains more Robinson correspondence for the period covered by VPRS 10 and also James Horsburgh reports for the period 1849 - 1850.