Overview
Cherbourg settlement was a home to many. But it was never the haven the Queensland government intended. By the end of the 19th century, at the height of Queensland's Aboriginal protectionist-policy practice, the idea of establishing two government-controlled Aboriginal reserves at either end of the state was nearing realisation. The reserve established in Queensland's south began as Barambah in 1901 and was later renamed Cherbourg. Variously described as bold, well meaning and misguided, it was a social experiment in institutional control that was to impact on the lives of thousands of Aboriginal families in ways that continue to this day.In this revealing, first-ever publication on Cherbourg Settlement's history 1900-1940, Thom Blake adds the vital dimension of interviews with former residents. Supported by maps, archival documents and letters, this book illustrates an Aboriginal reserve's evolution under government practice. It also explores the dynamics of cultural resilience through the generations.Author Biography
Thom Blake is a professional historian based in Brisbane. He is a graduate of the University of Queensland with degrees in Arts and Divinity. He has a long-standing interest in Indigenous history and has researched native title claims for various Indigenous land councils in Queensland. In 1984 he edited Hazel McKellar’s Matya Mundu: a history of Aboriginal people in South West Queensland. He is also the author of the award winning Dumping Ground: Cherbourg Settlement 1900-1940, published by UQP in 2001.