National Archives of Australia
Public Works - Northern Territory
Residences for half-castes - Alice Springs (1943-1954)
A518 AH241/6/6 1943 - 1954
Residences for half-castes - Alice Springs circa 1952
House No. 1
Tenancy Agreement signed 16th July, 1948 by Donald Stokes.
Occupant Donald Stokes
Daisy Pearce (defacto wife)
Ross Pearce, 9 years, at school
Kevin Pearce, 8 years, at school
Donald Pearce, 5 years
Dennie Pearce, 3 years
William Stokes, 6 months
Joker Pearce, brother of Daisy, camps there as well
Donald Stokes exempt - 8th June, 1940
Daisy Pearce unexempt
Joker Pearce exempt - 25th June, 1947
Donald Stokes employed by Department of Works on award wages.
Joker Pearce employed by Department of Works.
2 adult males
1 adult female
5 male children
House No. 2
Tenancy agreement not signed by present occupant.
House let to Alec Turner, but his mother Hetty
Perkins is responsible for rent, etc.
Occupant Mrs Hetty Perkins
Rita Perkins
Michael Perkins aged 10 months
May Perkins
Neville Perkins aged 11 months
Donald Turner, son of Hetty Perkins employed by Department of Works
Hetty Perkins exempt - 20th December, 1950
Rita Perkins, unexempt
May Perkins, unexempt
Don Turner, unexempt
Hetty Perkins employed Underdowns Cafe receives 8 pound per week
May Perkins employed Underdowne Cafe receives 5 pound per week
Rita Perkins unemployed
Don Turner on award wages
3 adult females
1 adult male
2 male children
House No, 3
Tenancy agreement signed by G Bray - 1st October, 1949
Occupants George Bray ) legally married
Nancy Bray )
William Bray, 5 years
Georgina Bray, 3 years
Lloyd Bray, 2 years
George Gregory Bray, 5 months
Felix Scobie )
Jeffrey Cummings ) Boarders
Billy Ryan )
George Bray, unexempt
Nancy Bray, unexempt
Felix Scobie, unexempt
Jeffrey Cummings, unexempt
Billy Ryan, exempt - 14th March, 1952
George Bray employed by Department of Works on award wages
4 adult males
1 adult female
3 male children
1 female child
House No. 4
Tenancy agreement signed by Mrs Mary Bray, 31st August, 1951.
Occupants Mrs Mary Bray
Ollie Bray
Eric Bray, 7 years, at school
Jessie Bray
Russell Bray, 2 years
Janice Bray, 6 months
Hilda Bray, Health Department
Lawrence Bray, Commonwealth Railways
Ronnie Bray, 9 years, at school
Don Ferguson ) legally married
Elsie Ferguson )
Dennis Ferguson, 9 years, at school
Maurice Ferguson, 5 years
Diana Ferguson, 3 years
Ray Ferguson, 1 year
Noel Baxter, 12 years, at school
Mrs Mary Bray, exempt - 16th August, 1940
Ollie Bray, unexempt
Jessie Bray, unexempt
Hilda Bray, unexempt
Lawrence Bray, unexempt
Don Ferguson, unexempt
Elsie Ferguson, unexempt
Mrs Mary Bray receives a Widow's Pension
Don Ferguson employed by Commonwealth Railways
5 adult females
2 adult males
7 male children
2 female children
House No. 5
Tenancy agreement signed by Elsie Hayes, 24th August, 1945.
Occupant Elsie Hayes
Ronald Hayes, 13 years, at school
Noel Hayes, 9 years, at school
Barry Hayes, 8 years, at school
Lorraine Hayes, 5 years
Kenny Hayes 2 years
Lorna Ansell
Patricia Ansell, 4 years
Colin Ansell, 3 years
Derek Ansell, 2 years
Emily Hayes
Clifford Hayes, 11 months
Elsie Hayes, unexempt
Lorna Ansell, unexempt
Emily Hayes, unexempt
Elsie Hayes is unemployed but receives maintenance from
her husband, Frank Hayes, employed by the Department of Works,
Darwin.
Lorna Ansell is unemployed - no maintenance received from
her husband.
Emily Hayes employed at Tea-Pot Inn, receives 7 pound per week.
3 adult females
7 male children
2 female children
House No. 6
Tenancy agreement signed by Roy Tilmouth - 3rd August, 1951.
Occupant Roy Tilmouth ) Defacto relationship
Betty Nayda )
Leslie John Nayda, 9 years, at school
Margaret Lorraine Nayda, 7 years, at school
Ian John Nayda, 5 years
Kenneth Raymond John Nayda, 4 years
Harold, 2 1/2 years
Lee Bruce Tilmouth, 5 months
Roy Tilmouth, exempt - 7th February, 1946
Betty Nayda, unexempt
Roy Tilmouth employed by Department of Works on award wages.
Mrs Betty Nayda up for legal action for outstanding rental
prior to commencing defacto relationship with Tilmouth.
Twenty four pounds four shillings and 9 pence.
1 adult male
1 adult female
5 male children
1 female child
House No. 7
Tenancy agreement signed by Stella Weetra, 7th February 1951.
Occupancy Mrs Stella Weetra
Thomas Maxwell Weetra, 8 years, at school
Elizabeth Margaret Weetra, 5 years
Jennifer Lorraine Weetra, 3 years
Christine Joan Weetra, 1 year
Jessie White
Brian White, 5 years
Robin White, 3 years
Emily Furber
Harold Furber, 4 months
Stella Weetra, unexempt
Jessie White, unexempt
Emily Furber, unexempt
Mrs Weetra employed as school cleaner on award wages.
3 adult females
4 male children
3 female children
House No. 8
Tenancy agreement signed by Eva Palmer, 3rd March, 1951.
Occupant Eva Palmer ) De facto relationship
Peter (Nugget) Kopp )
Peter Palmer, 5 years
Francis Palmer, 2 years
Kathleen Palmer, 9 months
Jean McDonald ) Being married on
Francis Woodbury ) Friday 21/11/1952
Francis Woodbury, 5 months
Eva Palmer, unexempt
Peter Kopp exempt - 28th January, 1947
Jean McDonald unexempt
Francis Woodbury European
Rental, etc., paid by Peter Kopp, employed by Department
of Works.
This money is not deducted from Kopp's wages, he gives the
money to Eva to pay to the Collector. Kopp receives award
wages. Woodbury employed by C.O.R. also receives award
wages and has recently been appointed to the permanent staff.
2 adult females
2 adult males
3 male children
1 female child
House No. 9
Tennancy agreement signed by Julia Hughes, 6th January, 1950.
Occupant Mrs Julia Hughes
Reg. Hughes, 18 years
Ron. Hughes, 12 years, at school
Doreen Hughes, 9 years, at school
Robert Hughes, 5 years
Herbert Laughton, employed at Abattoirs
Monty Swan, employed by Municipal Section
Julia Hughes, unexempt
Herbert Laughton, unexempt
Monty Swan, unexempt
Mrs Hughes receives house free of rent. She is up for
legal action for rent 23 pounds 6 shillings and 4 pound nineteen shillings and 8 pence.
Health Rates, prior to free rental being approved.
1 adult female
3 adult males
2 male children
1 female child
House No. 10
Tenancy agreement signed by Mrs Ruby Tilmouth 20th April 1949.
Occupant Mrs Ruby Tilmouth (Defacto relationship Mr Frank Preece)
Elizabeth Tilmouth, 15 years
Joan Tilmouth, 13 years
Maureen Tilmouth, 9 years
Colin Tilmouth, 6 years
Richard Tilmouth, 5 years
Helen Tilmouth, 2 years
Patricia Preece, 7 months
Ruby Tilmouth, unexempt
Mr Preece European
Preece employed by Department of Works on award wages.
Preece provides the money to keep this family.
2 adult females
1 adult male
4 female children
2 male children
House No. 11
Tenancy agreement signed by Norman Bray, 5th November 1946.
Occupant Norman Bray ) Legally married
Mrs Norman Bray )
Robert Bray, 5 years, at school
Harry Bray, brother of Norman - unemployed
Norman Bray, exempt 9th May 1946
Mrs Bray, unexempt
Harry Bray, unexempt
Norman Bray employed by Department of Works on award wages.
Rental, etc., deducted from his wages by Department of Works.
2 adult males
1 adult female
1 male child
House No. 12
Tenancy agreement signed by Henry Ford, 13th October 1948.
Occupant Henry Ford ) Defacto relationship
Daisy Roman )
Julie Roman, 14 years, at school
Richard Roman, 12 years, at school
Henry Ford, unexempt
Daisy Roman, unexempt
Henry Ford employed by Municipal Section on award wages.
Rental, etc., deducted from wages by N.T. Administration.
1 adult male
1 adult female
1 male child
1 female child
House No. 13
Tenancy agreement signed by J. Ah Kit, 21-12-1951.
Occupant Jack Ah Kit ) Defacto relationship
Daisy Hull )
June Hull, 7 years, school
Veronica Hull, 5 years
Jane Ah Kit, 3 years
John Ah Kit, 2 years
Irene Ah Kir, 1 year
George Ah Kit
Gordon Renfrey
Henry Ah Kit ) Legally married
Grace Ah Kit )
Michael Ah Kit, 5 years
Grace Ah Fat )
Samuel Ah Fat, 7 years ) On holidays from Camooweal
Thomas Ah Fat, 1 1/2 years )
J. Ah Kit
Daisy Hull
G. Ah Kit
G. Renfrey
H. Ah Kit
G. Ah Kit, unexempt
G. Ah Fat, unexempt
J. Ah Kit employed by Dept. Works on award wages.
Rental, etc., deducted from wages by Dept. Works.
4 adult males
3 adult females
4 female children
4 male children
House No. 14
Tenancy agreement signed by Harold Thomas 12. 2.1951.
Occupant Harold Thomas ) Legally married
Sport Thomas )
Janet Pearce, 8 years, school
Pamela Pearce, 6 years, school
Harold Thomas, 5 years
Lorraine Thomas, 4 years
Gary Thomas, 3 years
Merle Thomas, 1 year
Patricia ) twins, 5 months
Patrick )
Ronnie Pearce, Municipal Section
Billy Goodall, Municipal Section
Alec Conway
Harold Thomas, exempt 18. 6.1946
Sport Thomas, unexempt
Ronnie Pearce, unexempt
Billy Goodall, exempt 7. 2.1951
Alex Conway, unexempt
Harold Thomas employed by Municipal Section on award wages.
Rental etc. deducted from wages by N.T. Administration.
4 adult males
1 adult female
5 female children
5 male children
House No. 15
Tenancy agreement signed by Maggie Ross 24.10.1952.
Occupant Harry Ross
Maggie Ross
Henry Ross
Hank Brockhirzen
Myra Hodgson
Gerald Hodgson, 4 years
Harry Ross, exempt 11. 9.1944
Maggie Ross, exempt 11. 9.1944
Henry Ross, exempt 7. 2.1946
Myra Hodgson, exempt 14. 3.1951
Harry Ross, old age pensioner
Maggie Ross, casual employment
Henry Ross, casual employment
Hank Brockhirzen, unemployed
Myra Hodgson, unemployed
Brockhirzen claims to be of Philipimo extraction, not aboriginal.
Maggie Ross pays thirty five shillings per fortnight, and has been
keeping up payments.
Henry Ross is up for legal action on the amount of Rent 108 pounds
fourteen shillings and six pence up until his mother took over the
tenancy agreement. He stays with her when he is in town. At present
he is endeavouring to start mining activities at the Rumbalara ochre
field.
3 adult males
2 adult females
1 male child
House No. 16
Tenancy agreement signed by Mary Carter - 10th September 1951.
Occupant Mr Clive Carter ) Legally married
Mrs Mary Carter )
Frederick Carter, 3 years
Janet Carter, 1 year
Baden Goldsmith
Clive Carter, European
Mary Carter, unexempt
Baden Goldsmith, unexempt
Clive Carter and his wife are at present in Adelaide and
the house is being cared for by her brother Baden Goldsmith.
Clive Carter is employed by the Department of Works on award wages.
Rental, etc., deducted from wages by Department of Works.
2 adult males
1 adult female
1 male child
1 female child
House Number 17
Tenancy agreement signed by Donald Stuart, 7th June 1947.
Occupant Donald Stuart ) Legally married
Lena Stuart )
Robert Stuart, 19 years, Abattoirs
Glorina Stuart, 17 years, Cavanaghs Cool Drink Factory
Dulcie Stuart, 15 years, at school
Edna Stuart, 14 years, at school
May Stuart, 11 years, at school
Doris Stuart, 10 years, at school
Elaine Stuart, 4 years
Lennie Stuart, 2 years
Jack Ansell, unemployed
Donald Stuart, exempt 22nd December 1937
Lena Stuart, unexempt
Jack Ansell, exempt 12th May 1947
Don Stuart is employed by the Department of Works on award wages.
Rental, etc., deducted from wages by Department of Works.
3 adult males
2 adult females
5 female children
1 male child
House No. 18
Tenancy agreement signed by R.S. Muir on 10th June 1950.
Occupant R.S. Muir ) Legally married
D. Muir )
Shirley Muir
Arthur Muir
Henry Furber ) Defacto relationship
Ruby Hayes )
Caroline Hayes, 4 years
John Hayes, 7 months
R.S. Muir, European
Dolly Muir, unexempt
Henry Furber, exempt 20th October 1950
Ruby Hayes, unexempt
Muir is now working on Anningie Station.
2 adult males
2 adult females
2 male children
2 female children
House No. 19
Tenancy agreement signed by E.D. Caust 5th May 1947.
Occupant Edgar D. Caust
Winnie Caust
Joan Winnen, employed Stuart Arms Hotel
Jean Muir, 9 years, at school
E.D. Caust, European
Winnie Caust, unexempt
Joan Winnen, exempt 24th January 1951
Mr Caist is employed by the Department of Works. Rental,
etc., deducted from wages by Department of Works.
1 adult male
2 adult females
1 female child
House No. 20
Tenancy agreement signed by Clara Stokes on 5th June 1947.
Occupant Mrs Clara Stokes ) Defacto relationship
Dan Kennedy )
Beryl Stokes, 17 years
Donald Peckham, 9 months
Maureen Stokes, 15 years
Valerie Stokes, 9 years, at school
Eunice Kennedy, 3 years
Freddie Trindle, 18 years, Municipal Section
Clara Stokes, unexempt
Dan Kennedy, exempt 31st March 1937
Freddie Trindle, unuxempt
Dan Kennedy is employed by the Department of Works on award wages.
Rental, etc., deducted from wages by Department of Works.
3 adult females
2 adult males
2 female children
1 male child
House Number 21
Tenancy agreement signed by Elsie Hopkins on 10th January 1948.
Occupant Elsie Hopkins (At Hatches Creek at the moment)
Jock Cassidy ) Defacto relationship
Gladys Sultan )
Fabienne Sultan, 1 1/2 years
Elsie Hopkins, exempt 3rd January 1951
Jock Cassidy, exempt 26th April 1950
Gladys Sultan, exempt 7th March 1951
Jock Cassidy is employed by the Department of Works on award wages.
Cassidy is paying the Health rates and electricity but not the rent.
Normal residents 2 adult females
1 adult male
1 female child
House No. 22
Tenancy agreemant signed by Jessie Neal 23rd January 1951.
Occupant Jack Neale ) Legally married
Jessie Neale )
John Neale, 5 years
Jennifer Neale, 2 years
Jack Neale, exempt 7th February 1946
Jessie Neale, unexempt
Jack Neale is employed by the Department of Works on award wages.
Neale has only recently joined Department of Works. Now has rental,
etc., deducted from Wages.
1 adult male
1 adult female
1 male child
1 female child
House Number 23
Tenancy agreement signed by T.W. Madden on 14th November 1951.
Occupant Ruby Turner ) Defacto relationship
Tommy Madden )
Joyce Turner, 6 years, at school
Jane Madden, 3 years
Freddie McCoy ) Defacto relationship
Doreen Sultan )
Albert McMasters ) Defacto relationship
Loretta Sultan )
Ruby Turner, unexempt
Tommy Madden, exempt 28th February 1946
Fred McCoy, unexempt
Doreen Sultan, unexempt
Albert McMasters, exempt 25th February 1946
Loretta Sultan, exempt 28th March 1951
Tommy Madden contract fencing on Lucy Creek Station.
McCoy works at Abattoirs
McMaster works for Department of Works
3 adult females
3 adult males
2 female children
House No. 24
Tenancy agreement signed by Tilly Miller 11th November 1946.
Occupant Lou Miller
Tilley Miller
June Miller, 8 years, school
Eileen, 7 years, school
David, 5 years, school
Sandra, 4 years
Beverly, 1 1/2 years
Marilyn, 3 weeks
Lou Miller, European
Tilley Miller, exempt 4th April 1951
Lou Miller runs his own carrying business. Miller is a bad payer
and recently the N.T. Administration had to recover some money
by deducting it from an account that was owing to Miller for
Government carting.
1 adult Male
1 adult female
5 female children
1 male child
_______________________________________________________________________
Administrator
Alice Springs, N.T.
21st September 1944
The Secretary
Department of the Interior
Canberra A.C.T.
WORKERS HOUSING SCHEME: ALICE SPRINGS:
RESIDENCES FOR HALFCASTES AND OTHERS
...........
Page 3
Housing of Half-caste People:
Inspection of dwellings occupied by the half-
caste peoples within the Health area of Alice Springs
revealed that these peoples are housed under extremely
bad conditions, and that hygiene and sanitation are
practically unknown.
It is believed that His Honour the Administrator
was cognizant with this fact and had caused the
Commonwealth Government to set aside a sum of money to
build suitable dwellings for these halfcaste peoples:
also, that plansof suitable dwellings had been prepared.
It will be seen from deplorable conditions of
living instanced below that early priority should be
given the home building project.
(a) Sub-normal Dwellings
Sub-normal dwellings situated in that area of land
between Todd Street and Leichhardt Terrace, extending
from Parsons Street to the Abattoir. All are roughly
improvised.
1. Mrs Smith. Small galvanised iron shack. Occupied
by 4 adults and 6 children.
2. Mrs Stewart. Small tent, dimensions approx. 6' x 8'.
Occupied by 2 adults and 6 children.
3. Mrs Tilmouth. Tent and small iron dwelling. Occupied by
2 adults and 5 children.
4. Mrs Satour. Iron dwelling. Occupied by 3 adults.
5. Mrs Campbell. Small iron dwelling. Occupied by
2 adults and 8 children.
6. Mrs Tucker. Small iron dwelling. Occupied by 3 adults.
7. Mr Crosby. Rough bag dwelling dimensions 13' by 12'.
Occupied by 2 adults and 5 children.
8. Mr Little. Iron hut - 2 rooms. Occupied by 4 adults
and 2 children.
9. Mrs Le Rossingnol, Mrs Cubillo and others. Iron hut
roughly sub-divided. Occupied by 5 adults and
9 children.
C L A Abbott
Administrator.
...........................
LIST OF ALICE SPRINGS RESIDENTS LIVING IN SUB_NORMAL HOUSES
Alice Springs
Mrs E Walsh - H/C. Employed by J Lackman 5
Mr H Crombie - Wife H/C. Employed by Department of the Interior 4
Mr T Hampton - H/C himself. Employed by D of I 5
F Hayes - H/C himself. Employed by D of I. 3
D Ross - H/C himself. Stockman employed at Barrow Creek. 6
W Tilmouth - H/C himself. Employed by G Brandt. 7
B Ply - H/C himself. Employed by N.T. Administration 4
Bill Tilmouth - H/C himself. Employed at Abattoir. 6
T Benson - H/C himself. Employed by Mrs McCrae. 4
L Purdy - Wife H/C. Labourer. 5
H Ross - H/C himself. Employed by N.T. Administration. 3
J Dean - Wife H/C. Drover. 3
Maggie Tilmouth - H/C. Domestic. 4
T Williams - H/C himself. Saddler. 5
Mrs Ali Mahomet - Indian. 3
Attak Mahomer ) Indians. In business. 2
Abdul Mudgee )
S Walker - H/C himself. Employed by N.T. Administration. 9
Mrs A Kunoth - H/C. Wife of Pastoralist. 4
W Satour - H/C. Employed by Commonwealth Railways. 6
P Tucker - H/C. Employed by Commonwealth Railways. 3
Mompy Khan - H/C Indian. Employed at Hatches Creek. 2
S Campbell - H/C. Employed by Wallis Fogarty Ltd. 12
A Pope - Wife H/C. Contractor. 5
Mrs Perkins - H/C. Employed by G Walton. 3
Mrs Dubois - H/C. Husband A.I.F.. 3
Mrs Geesing - H/C. Domestic. 3
Mrs Pick - H/C. Domestic. 4
J Shaw - Wife H/C. Employed at Hatches Creek. 3
D Stewart - H/C. Employed D. of I.. 5
H Crosby - Wife H/C. Employed D. of I.. 6
E Liddle - H/C. Husband A.I.F.. 5
Mrs Roberts - H/C. Husband employed Hatches Creek. 3
This makes a total of thirty two houses required to
accomodate 145 people, all of whom are normal Alice Springs
residents and can be reasonably expected to remain in the district
after the War.
Darwin
J Agostini - Wife H/C. Employed by N.T. Administration. 6
N Ballard - Wife H/C. Employed by D. of I.. 7
H Peckham - Wife H/C. Employed by N.T. Administration. 7
N Hazelbane - H/C. Employed by Commonwealth Railways. 4
Mulwa Brown - H/C. Employed by N.T. Administration. 3
This makes a grand total of thirty-seven houses needed to
house 172 people, although it is quite possible that some of the
last five may elect to return to Darwin after the War.
John H Driver
For Chief Surveyor
21st September, 1944.
_____________________________________________________________________
Memorandum to His Honour the Administrator 26th November 1952.
Halfcaste Living Conditions in Alice Springs
.....................................................
The Charles Bore
North of the township on the site of the Charles
Bore there resides Dick Palmer with his family group and a
few others on an area held by Palmer under an occupation
licence. In good years Palmer follows droving, but this year
he has had a lean time and has recently returned from the mica
fields awaiting a buyer. The camp consists of a shack of
scrap iron occupied by Palmer, and a series of humpies from
an old truck canopy down to a typical wurley in which other
people live. There were twelve adults and eleven children
in the group and represent five families requiring accomodation.
Three boys from the camp attend the Alice Springs Higher Primary
School, and three girls, granddaughters of Palmer, are inmates
of St Mary's Hostel. Two other girls are of school age, but
Palmer informed me he was trying to arrange for their admission
to the Convent School next year.
There is but one sanitary convenience in the area -
a pan type lavatory built by Palmer, who pays health rates for
a twice weekly clearance. The water supply is from an open
well and water is pulled up in a two gallon can. The
residents are a mixture of halfcaste, three quarter caste and
full blood, with no idea of sanitation, and have but the barest
essentials. Palmer's four adult sons were allegedly in employment
around Alice Springs, but later during my stay I located
one loafing on the banks of the Todd. Palmer possesses a very
good droving plant and an old motor truck, but little else which
would confornm to normal European standards or provide any comfort
in life.
Lutheran Mission Block
This block is nominally in the care of a full blood
evangelist, Martin, whose own living conditions are good, but
he is unable to exercise any control over the other residents,
who comprise four halfcastes and their families, and a varying
number of itinerant natives visiting from areas under Hermannsburg
influence. I counted twenty three of these itinerants,
many of whom disappeared when an interest was shown in their
activities. Whilst on the block they camp in humpies and the
living conditions of the halfcastes are apalling.
Bruce Fly, a halfcaste with a full blood wife, has
six children. There were also two visitors. They reside
in a 16' x 14' shack furnished only with five cyclone beds
covered with filthy blankets. There is no provision for food
storage and all cooking is done over an open fire. Fly receives
award wages as a municipal employee.
Jack Miller, a half-caste with a full blood wife and
five children, lives in a 12' x 12' shack. Their only
furniture is three beds and a few rough cupboards. However,
this shack was reasonably clean, despite the deplorable
standards. Miller works with the Municipal section.
Anton Abbott, a halfcaste with a full blood wife,
occupies a 12' x 12' shack furnished with four old beds and a
few boxes. He is employed by the Municipal section.
Bob Welsh, described as a pensioner, occupies a small
hut but I was unable to contact him.
Each of the miserable shacks has its own lavatory
provided by the Lutheran Mission, but the occupiers pay their
own health rates.
Kenna's Block
Mr L J Kenna is the owner of block No. 215 and, until
recently, I am informed, he had an interest in blocks 220 and 221.
On block 215, tucked away in one corner on the bank of
the Todd, are three crude shacks occupied by Arnold Abbott, Jack Gillen
and Jimmy Pound. Their water supply is from an open well
and the water appeared muddy and possibly polluted. There is
only one sanitary convenience for the group, which numbers
approximately fifteen people. The women and children were
absent at the time of my visit. The men claim to be itinerant
workers, usually following droving or station work, but have
recently arrived from the mica fields to await the mica buyer.
On blocks 220 and 221, and actually in a disused pig sty,
lives the Walker family and three children. Previously Walker
was employed by the Sanitary Contractor and lived at the old
Police Station. He left this employment and, according to
Mrs Walker, could no longer reside at the Police Station.
Anyhow, in her opinion, it was too far from town. Mrs Walker
was the most slovenly of any of the people seen. Walker is
now engaged in making concrete bricks. I offered alternative
accomodation of a hut at the Bungalow, but only received loud
abuse and the information politely conveyed, that the Walkers
were not blackfellows.
Adjacent in a dilapidated, disused stable, camps
the eldest Walker girl, her defacto husband and two children.
The offer of alternative accomodation was refused on grounds
similar to those expressed by the mother.
Nearby are three shacks on miscellaneous leases.
Mrs Campbell and four children occupy a large tin building
with an earth floor. Cleanliness was reasonable.
Mrs Ada Baxter and two children have a small shack
shared with a defacto European husband, at present appealing
against a three months sentence for co-habiting. Conditions
are extremely crude.
Roy Benson, with his halfcaste wife and several
children, are the next residents, but two visits to the place
failed to locate anyone in residence.
Not far distant is the Wauchope Tilmouth family,
with seven children and Mrs Tilmouth's full blood mother.
Tilmouth is working on a station and whilst the condition of
the scrap iron shack is poor, Mrs Tilmouth gave me the
impression that, given the opportunity, she could maintain a
reasonable standard.
One other family, the Dixons, were found residing
in an aboriginal camp on the Bungalow Reserve. Dixon is a
full blood, his wife a South Australian halfcaste. Three
children were attending the Public School. A Bungalow hut
was refused, but the family accepted a travel warrant to Port
Augusta on the train leaving on 24th November, 1952.
..............................................................
F H Moy
Director of Native Affairs
__________________________________________________________________
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