Even before the first colonists had left London the first Protector of Aborigines for South Australia had been appointed, charged with the duty as ‘ombudsman’ to act on behalf of the Aborigines in their dealings with Government and colonists. Twelve men in all were to occupy the position until 1940, when it was absorbed into the new Aborigines Protection Board.



In an era before Government ‘spin’ and political correctness, these men wrote unexpectedly frank and revealing reports which give an excellent and rather surprising picture of the times. One...