NRS-24 | Station reports and returns

These records consist of Managers' monthly reports, monthly returns, daily diaries, work sheets and pumping plant returns. The returns provide information about the day to day life on aboriginal stations, including work schedules, population numbers, marriages, accommodation, visitors, land cultivation, and conduct of residents. The records are arranged alphabetically by station name and then chronologically.The daily diaries include details related to the following: rations issued; work available off station; work performed for rations; area under cultivation; nature of and progress of crops; number of family endowment orders; number of managers orders; number of cows milking; distribution of milk; rainfall; weather conditions; mileages of vehicles; and general remarks.Managers' monthly reports include the following details: particulars of residents – number of male and female adults and children on the Station (and the daily average), number of children of school age, average school attendance, births and deaths; marriages; families (or individuals) admitted for permanent residence or who left the Station during the month; number of buildings; health of residents; employment; water supply; gardens and crops; visitors; general remarks; Matron's Report – a concise report of the work done each week, stating cleanliness of dwellings and instructions given to women in regard to housekeeping.Monthly returns give the quantity of petrol and oil used; stock numbers; and the type of machinery and equipment used on the station.The final bundle of records in this series contains information from dozens of Station Managers and Officers-in-Charge of Police in whose districts Aborigines Reserves were located. The information was for use in the Aborigines Welfare Board's Annual Reports. This bundle also includes Quarterly Reports for the Ulgundahi Island Aboriginal Reserve between 1943 and 1949 (not inclusive). These Reports include the following information: area, date of inspection, date of previous inspection, distance from nearest town, improvements on Reserve, population, number of births and deaths, means of subsistence, quality of rations, employment, health, and general remarks and recommendations.The records in this series were transferred to the Archives Office by the Aborigines Services Branch of the Department of Youth and Community Services in 1977.1942-1948 (4/10743-10749.2)