End of an Era: Aboriginal Labour in the Northern Territory by Ronald M Berndt and Catherine H Berndt

Book Description

Secondhand. Very good condition. Minor wear to book corners and edges.

The book is a retrospective analysis based on a comprehensive survey of Aboriginal labour on cattle stations and Army Aboriginal Settlements conducted by the Berndts between 1944 and 1946.

In 1944, the Australian Investment Agency (part of the vast British Vestey pastoral empire) commissioned the couple to investigate the welfare, living, and working conditions of Indigenous workers on its Northern Territory pastoral stations.

The stations, all owned by the Australian Investment Agency (Vesteys), include Wave Hill, Waterloo, Limbunya, Birrundudu, Gordon Downs, Manbulloo, Willeroo; Army Settlements include Katherine Civil Settlement, Manbulloo Army Settlement; also Daly River region

The Berndts documented horrific, exploitative conditions, inadequacy of diet, starvation; inadequate supplies of drinking, washing water, shelter, educational and medical facilities; infant mortality, birth rate; sexual relations, white men, Aboriginal women; labour recruitment, remuneration; costs to stations for food, clothing, sundries supplied to Aborigines; conduct of white staff, Aboriginal attitudes; responses to report, recommendations.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers, please note that this book may contain descriptions and/or images of people who have passed away.