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Place Roper River Mission

Northern Territory

Summary

Roper River Mission was the first of five missions set up by the Church Missionary Society in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1908. It was located 110 km upstream from the mouth of the Roper River in Arnhem Land and spanned 320 square km. The intention was to bring 'Christanity and civilisation' to the Aboriginal people of Arnhem Land as well as being a safe haven for Aboriginal people from the massacre by white settlers. Children were made to live at the Mission station in dormitories, separate from their parents and relatives. In 1928, a compound for people suffering from leprosy was established. In 1940 the mission was destroyed by floods and moved to Ngukurr and then after the bombing of Darwin during WWII, children were evacuated from the mission and relocated to NSW and later to South Australia or Alice Springs. In 1968, administration of the mission was transferred to the Welfare Branch of the Northern Territory and then in 1988, the Yugul Mangi Community Government Council took control of the former mission and the township was named Ngukurr.
For more information see:
www.findandconnect.gov.au/guide/nt/YE00010

Archival resources

National Centre for Indigenous Genomics

  • Correspondence and Survey Results, 1968 - 1969, 02B-34; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
  • Correspondence and Working Notes, 1969, X1A-02; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
  • Draft Manuscript, - 1971, 02D-26; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
  • Field Notes and Survey Results, 1968, 02D-11; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
  • Genealogies, 1969, 06A-09; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
  • Genealogies, 1968 - 1969, 02D-23; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
  • Laboratory workbook, 1968, Lab-01-016; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
  • Serology Results, 1968, 02D-08; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
  • Survey Results, 1968, 02D-03; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
  • Survey Results, 1968, 02D-06; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
  • Survey Results, 1977, 02D-44; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
  • Survey Results, Reprint of Journal Article, Manuscript, Correspondence and Working Notes, 1971 - 1972, 06A-22; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details