Indigenous Population Movement in South East Australia During a 20th Century Drought Event

Abstract

Between 1918-1920 severe nation-wide drought resulted in the closure of numerous government reserves designated as living areas for Aboriginal people in central-western NSW. The semi-arid Cobar Peneplain region in particular was severely affected, and much of the Indigenous population evacuated, either by choice or under government relocation programs, to peripheral areas with more reliable water sources. To handle this sudden population concentration, large-scale government-run settlements were established at several outlying locations, notably at the towns of Menindee, Brewarrina and Coonamble, on the Darling, Barwon and Macquarie Rivers respectively. Although this major population concent..