Atherton Tablelands - Aboriginal History

The history and culture of the Australian Aboriginal people stretches back for tens of thousands of years, and the Atherton Tablelands is an important part of this history. Although modern day historians are largely uninformed about indigenous history prior to European contact, we do have records about the impact of white settlement on the Aboriginal lands, the conflicts that resulted, and the rules and inequalities forced upon the native people. The story of Aboriginal history in the Atherton Tablelands since 1884 is bleak, showing the catastrophic deterioration of a strong culture that once thrived in this mountainous region.

As described in the general history of the Atherton Tablelands, white settlers first established villages and towns in the area in 1886. For two years prior to this, explorers had been searching the area for viable economic resources such as timber, tin and gold. These explorers had come in contact with Aborigines and displayed a distinct lack of grace and understanding for their ancient culture. Conflict between the two groups became intense and the killing of cattle and crops in acts of retaliation by Aborigines became economically unbearable for white settlers. Indiscriminate killings of Aboriginal people resulted, creating a gulf of animosity between white and black.

In desperation at losing their economic interests (cattle and crops) the settlers near Atherton pressured the government into conciliating the rainforest Aborigines. In early 1889, a police constable aided by Aboriginal interpreters made contact with the resisting rainforest Aborigines and coerced them into a truce: If the Aborigines ceased attacking the white folk, the settlers would return the favour and supply them with food.

This strategy was successful in stopping the violence between white and black people, but it did not halt the downfall of the Aboriginal way of life in the area. To the contrary, some anthropologists have suggested that the nullification of Aboriginal resistance took away their only method of defiance to European invasion of their land.

From 1897 to 1971, the 'Restriction of the Sale of Opium and Protection of Aboriginals Act' was created with the purpose of looking after the perceived interests of Aborigines. This act authorised committing aborigines to a reserve and detaining them there against their will, and permitting the forced separation of husbands from wives, and children from mothers. Specific justification for these actions was not required – the word of the white man was apparently more trustworthy and educated than the black man. These events fractured families and altered the courses of many young Aboriginal lives.

By Federation in 1901, some Aboriginal men living at the Atherton Tablelands were employed on the land felling timber, erecting fences and working stock. Women were often employed by a family to help with domestic chores. In the 1920's and 30's and again in the 1950's and 60's, a tourist display was held in the Malanda displaying the local skill of tree climbing and some cultural traditions. During these years, however, the wages of Aboriginal workers was strictly controlled and divided between landowners, local authorities, and the Aborigines themselves. Allocation of wages was determined on marital status, age, and whether an Aboriginal was full-caste or half-caste.

In the first half of the 20th century, the ideal of Aboriginal missions as a way of “saving” the Aboriginal people from “themselves” was in full swing. People were sent compulsorily to missions at Yarrabah (Cairns), Monamona (near Kuranda), Palm Island (Townsville) and Woorabinda (Rockhampton). The missions aimed to protect some aboriginals from murderous reprisals by white landowners, but the unintended consequence was the further damaging of Aboriginal culture by discouraging language, tribal tradition and in some instances, family ties.

The result of the past 120 years is a sad indictment of one culture controlling another.

Less than a handful of Aboriginal families remain in the Malanda area, even though some who were sent away to missions did return to their homeland when released. There are few surviving speakers of the indigenous Atherton Tablelands language, Ngadjon.