This document contains writings of Port Jackson from the perspective of early Europeans in Australia.

Watkin Tench, A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson: Including An Accurate Description of the Situation of the Colony; of the Natives; and of Its Natural Productions (University of Sydney Library, 1998)

The lack of records during the period 1788 to 1908 makes it difficult to determine what, if any, laws or policies governed the removal of Aboriginal children from their families during this period. However, from the earliest years of the colony, Government practices resulted in children being separated from their...

Early child removals

While adoption of Aboriginal children into European families happened in the early years of the colony, this was not regulated by law until 1923. Throughout this period, no law or policy had regard to the cultural needs of Aboriginal children being adopted.

Document

Watkin Tench, A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson: Including An Accurate Description of the Situation of the Colony; of the Natives; and of Its Natural Productions (University of Sydney Library, 1998)

Early child removals

Adoption by non-Aboriginal families