Taking Liberty: Indigenous Rights and Settler Self-Government in Colonial Australia, 1830–1890 (Critical Perspectives on Empire)

"At last a history that explains how indigenous dispossession and survival underlay and shaped the birth of Australian democracy. The legacy of seizing a continent and alternately destroying and governing its original people shaped how white Australians came to see themselves as independent citizens. It also shows how shifting wider imperial and colonial politics influenced the treatment of indigenous Australians, and how indigenous people began to engage in their own ways with these new political institutions. It is, essentially, a bringing together of two histories that have hitherto been told separately: one concerns the arrival of early democracy in the Australian colonies, as white settlers moved from the shame and restrictions of the penal era to a new and freer society with their own institutions of government; the other is the tragedy of indigenous dispossession and displacement, with its frontier violence, poverty, disease and enforced regimes of mission life"-- Provided by publisher Cover......Page 1 Half Title......Page 3 Series Page......Page 4 Title Page......Page 5 Imprints Page......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 List of Abbreviations......Page 9 Acknowledgements......Page 11 Maps......Page 15 Introduction: How Settlers Gained Self-Government and Indigenous People (Almost) Lost It......Page 17 Settler Societies......Page 33 The Structure of the Book......Page 35 Part I A Four-Cornered Contest: British Government, Settlers, Missionaries, and Indigenous Peoples......Page 43 1 Colonialism and Catastrophe, 1830......Page 45 Evolution of Britain’s Aboriginal Policy in New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land, 1788–1830......Page 47 Frontier Conflict Escalates, 1825–1830......Page 54 War in Van Diemen’s Land......Page 56 Colonisation and Aboriginal Policy – Where to Next?......Page 59 Introduction: British Enthusiasm for Colonisation Grows......Page 64 Pastoral Expansion and Aboriginal Policy, 1831–4......Page 69 Evangelicals and Aboriginal Policy, 1835......Page 74 Political Representation for Settlers? 1833–1836......Page 77 Aboriginal Protest and Negotiation, 1835–1838......Page 80 Select Committee on Aborigines in British Settlements, 1836–1837......Page 83 Glenelg Installs New Protection Policy......Page 88 New South Wales......Page 90 Port Phillip......Page 100 South Australia......Page 107 Western Australia......Page 114 Introduction......Page 119 Anti-transportation in Britain......Page 120 Trouble in the Canadian Colonies......Page 124 Response to the Durham Report......Page 128 British Discussion of Self-Government and Aboriginal Policy, 1839–1841......Page 130 Indigenous People in Settlers’ Political Rights Discourse......Page 135 The New Constitution......Page 140 Land Policy and Aboriginal Rights......Page 143 The First Elections......Page 147 Aboriginal Policy: The Imperial and the Local......Page 151 Separation Movements in Moreton Bay and Port Phillip......Page 157 Port Phillip......Page 161 Indigenous Activism in Van Diemen’s Land......Page 164 Part II Towards Self-Government......Page 169 British Views Regarding Self-Government......Page 171 Colonial Demands for Self-Government, 1846–1849......Page 176 Anti-Transportationists on Aboriginal–Settler Relations......Page 180 Settler Discourse on the Place of Aboriginal People in the Colonies’ Future......Page 187 The Australian Colonies Government Act, 1850......Page 189 7 ‘No Place for the Sole of Their Feet’: Imperial-Colonial Dialogue on Aboriginal Land Rights, 1846–1851......Page 196 The Reality of Population Decline and the Idea of Extinction......Page 197 Missions – Endings and Beginnings......Page 198 A Resurgence of Humanitarianism: Earl Grey, the Colonial Office, and Aboriginal Policy......Page 202 Colonial Responses to Grey’s Despatch......Page 206 Schools, Hospitals, and Blankets......Page 213 Policing......Page 216 Reflections on Impending Extinction in Van Diemen’s Land......Page 219 8 Who Will Govern Aboriginal People? Britain Transfers Control of Aboriginal Policy to the Colonies, 1852–1854......Page 224 The Gold Rushes and Aboriginal People......Page 225 Britain’s Colonial Policy, 1852–1855......Page 229 The Imperial Government Washes Its Hands: Land Policy and Aboriginal Governance......Page 232 Humanitarians in the Colonies......Page 238 Colonists Devise New Constitutions, 1853–1854......Page 242 The British Debates over the New Constitutions, 1854–1855......Page 251 British Attitudes During the First Few Years of Responsible Government......Page 254 Aboriginal People and the British Public......Page 261 Queen Victoria and Australian Aboriginal People......Page 266 Part III Self-Governing Colonies and Indigenous People, 1856–c.1870......Page 269 10 Ghosts of the Past, People of the Present: Tasmania......Page 271 Aboriginal Policy under Responsible Government......Page 272 The Continuing Role of the Governor......Page 274 Last Days at Oyster Cove......Page 275 The Indigenous Peoples of the Bass Strait Islands......Page 277 11 ‘A Refugee in Our Own Land’: Governing Aboriginal People in Victoria......Page 285 Indigenous Agency and the Reserves Policy......Page 290 Intervention, Micro-Management, and Control......Page 300 12 Aboriginal Survival in New South Wales......Page 304 The Northern Districts, 1856–1859......Page 305 Liberal Governments and Aboriginal Policy......Page 314 A Policy of Minimal Care......Page 317 Land and Labour......Page 321 Extinction and Indifference......Page 323 Conclusion......Page 327 13 Their Worst Fears Realised: The Disaster of Queensland......Page 329 The First Two Years of Self-Government, 1859–1861......Page 330 The Native Mounted Police under Responsible Government......Page 333 The Violent 1860s......Page 342 Missions, Schooling, and Aboriginal Labour......Page 344 Prince Alfred’s Visit......Page 347 Aboriginal Policy in the First Four Years of Responsible Government......Page 351 The Uncertainty as to Aboriginal People’s Political and Legal Status......Page 355 The Select Committee, 1860......Page 357 Colonial Governance of Aboriginal People 1861–1867......Page 360 The Far North......Page 365 ‘John Baker been steal our Prince’: Aboriginal Political Strategies......Page 369 Conclusion......Page 373 Part IV Self-Government for Western Australia......Page 375 15 ‘Little Short of Slavery’: Forced Aboriginal Labour in Western Australia, 1856–1884......Page 377 Aboriginal Policy 1856–1870......Page 378 Aboriginal Policy under Representative Government......Page 382 Governor Robinson and Aboriginal Policy, 1880–1883......Page 387 The Interregnum, February–June 1883......Page 390 Broome and Aboriginal Policy, 1883......Page 392 Conclusion......Page 400 16 ‘A Slur upon the Colony’: Making Western Australia’s Unusual Constitution, 1885–1890......Page 401 The Effect of Aboriginal Policy Questions on the Campaign for Responsible Government......Page 409 Aboriginal Policy Under Self-Government, 1890–1901......Page 417 Conclusion......Page 421 Index......Page 429 Cover 1 Half Title 3 Series Page 4 Title Page 5 Imprints Page 6 Contents 7 List of Abbreviations 9 Acknowledgements 11 Maps 15 Introduction: How Settlers Gained Self-Government and Indigenous People (Almost) Lost It 17 Settler Societies 33 The Structure of the Book 35 Part I A Four-Cornered Contest: British Government, Settlers, Missionaries, and Indigenous Peoples 43 1 Colonialism and Catastrophe, 1830 45 Evolution of Britain’s Aboriginal Policy in New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land, 1788–1830 47 Frontier Conflict Escalates, 1825–1830 54 War in Van Diemen’s Land 56 Colonisation and Aboriginal Policy – Where to Next? 59 2 ‘Another New World Inviting Our Occupation’: Colonisation and the Beginnings of Humanitarian Intervention, 1831–1837 64 Introduction: British Enthusiasm for Colonisation Grows 64 Pastoral Expansion and Aboriginal Policy, 1831–4 69 Evangelicals and Aboriginal Policy, 1835 74 Political Representation for Settlers? 1833–1836 77 Aboriginal Protest and Negotiation, 1835–1838 80 Select Committee on Aborigines in British Settlements, 1836–1837 83 3 Settlers Oppose Indigenous Protection, 1837–1842 88 Introduction 88 Glenelg Installs New Protection Policy 88 New South Wales 90 Port Phillip 100 South Australia 107 Western Australia 114 4 A Colonial Conundrum: Settler Rights versus Indigenous Rights, 1837–1842 119 Introduction 119 Anti-transportation in Britain 120 Trouble in the Canadian Colonies 124 Response to the Durham Report 128 British Discussion of Self-Government and Aboriginal Policy, 1839–1841 130 Indigenous People in Settlers’ Political Rights Discourse 135 The New Constitution 140 5 Who Will Control the Land? Colonial and Imperial Debates, 1842–1846 143 Land Policy and Aboriginal Rights 143 The First Elections 147 Aboriginal Policy: The Imperial and the Local 151 Separation Movements in Moreton Bay and Port Phillip 157 Port Phillip 161 Indigenous Activism in Van Diemen’s Land 164 Part II Towards Self-Government 169 6 Who Will Govern the Settlers? Imperial and Settler Desires, Visions, and Utopias, 1846–1850 171 British Views Regarding Self-Government 171 Colonial Demands for Self-Government, 1846–1849 176 Anti-Transportationists on Aboriginal–Settler Relations 180 Settler Discourse on the Place of Aboriginal People in the Colonies’ Future 187 The Australian Colonies Government Act, 1850 189 7 ‘No Place for the Sole of Their Feet’: Imperial-Colonial Dialogue on Aboriginal Land Rights, 1846–1851 196 The Reality of Population Decline and the Idea of Extinction 197 Missions – Endings and Beginnings 198 A Resurgence of Humanitarianism: Earl Grey, the Colonial Office, and Aboriginal Policy 202 Colonial Responses to Grey’s Despatch 206 Schools, Hospitals, and Blankets 213 Policing 216 Reflections on Impending Extinction in Van Diemen’s Land 219 8 Who Will Govern Aboriginal People? Britain Transfers Control of Aboriginal Policy to the Colonies, 1852–1854 224 The Gold Rushes and Aboriginal People 225 Britain’s Colonial Policy, 1852–1855 229 The Imperial Government Washes Its Hands: Land Policy and Aboriginal Governance 232 Humanitarians in the Colonies 238 Colonists Devise New Constitutions, 1853–1854 242 9 The Dark Side of Responsible Government? Britain and Indigenous People in the Self-Governing Colonies, 1854–1870 251 The British Debates over the New Constitutions, 1854–1855 251 British Attitudes During the First Few Years of Responsible Government 254 Aboriginal People and the British Public 261 Queen Victoria and Australian Aboriginal People 266 Part III Self-Governing Colonies and Indigenous People, 1856–c.1870 269 10 Ghosts of the Past, People of the Present: Tasmania 271 Aboriginal Policy under Responsible Government 272 The Continuing Role of the Governor 274 Last Days at Oyster Cove 275 The Indigenous Peoples of the Bass Strait Islands 277 11 ‘A Refugee in Our Own Land’: Governing Aboriginal People in Victoria 285 Indigenous Agency and the Reserves Policy 290 Intervention, Micro-Management, and Control 300 12 Aboriginal Survival in New South Wales 304 The Northern Districts, 1856–1859 305 Liberal Governments and Aboriginal Policy 314 A Policy of Minimal Care 317 Land and Labour 321 Extinction and Indifference 323 Conclusion 327 13 Their Worst Fears Realised: The Disaster of Queensland 329 The First Two Years of Self-Government, 1859–1861 330 The Native Mounted Police under Responsible Government 333 The Violent 1860s 342 Missions, Schooling, and Aboriginal Labour 344 Prince Alfred’s Visit 347 14 A Question of Honour in the Colony That Was Meant to Be Different: Aboriginal Policy in South Australia 351 Aboriginal Policy in the First Four Years of Responsible Government 351 The Uncertainty as to Aboriginal People’s Political and Legal Status 355 The Select Committee, 1860 357 Colonial Governance of Aboriginal People 1861–1867 360 The Far North 365 ‘John Baker been steal our Prince’: Aboriginal Political Strategies 369 Conclusion 373 Part IV Self-Government for Western Australia 375 15 ‘Little Short of Slavery’: Forced Aboriginal Labour in Western Australia, 1856–1884 377 Aboriginal Policy 1856–1870 378 Aboriginal Policy under Representative Government 382 Governor Robinson and Aboriginal Policy, 1880–1883 387 The Interregnum, February–June 1883 390 Broome and Aboriginal Policy, 1883 392 Conclusion 400 16 ‘A Slur upon the Colony’: Making Western Australia’s Unusual Constitution, 1885–1890 401 The Effect of Aboriginal Policy Questions on the Campaign for Responsible Government 409 Aboriginal Policy Under Self-Government, 1890–1901 417 Conclusion 421 Index 429 Machine generated contents note: Introduction: how settlers gained self-government and indigenous people (almost) lost it; Part I.A Four-Cornered Contest: British Government, Settlers, Missionaries and Indigenous Peoples: 1. Colonialism and catastrophe: 1830; 2. 'Another new world inviting our occupation': colonisation and the beginnings of humanitarian intervention, 1831-1837; 3. Settlers oppose indigenous protection: 1837-1842; 4. A colonial conundrum: settler rights versus indigenous rights, 1837-1842; 5. Who will control the land? Colonial and imperial debates 1842-1846; Part II. Towards Self-Government: 6. Who will govern the settlers? Imperial and settler desires, visions, utopias, 1846-1850; 7. 'No place for the sole of their feet': imperial-colonial dialogue on Aboriginal land rights, 1846-1851; 8. Who will govern Aboriginal people? Britain transfers control of Aboriginal policy to the colonies, 1852-1854; 9. The dark side of responsible government? Britain and indigenous people in the self-governing colonies, 1854-1870; Part III. Self-Governing Colonies and Indigenous People, 1856-c.1870: 10. Ghosts of the past, people of the present: Tasmania; 11. 'A refugee in our own land': governing Aboriginal people in Victoria; 12. Aboriginal survival in New South Wales; 13. Their worst fears realised: the disaster of Queensland; 14. A question of honour in the colony that was meant to be different: Aboriginal policy in South Australia; Part IV. Self-Government for Western Australia: 15. 'A little short of slavery': forced Aboriginal labour in Western Australia 1856-1884; 16. 'A slur upon the colony': making Western Australia's unusual constitution, 1885-1890; Conclusion