'The rapid economic development of Queensland in the 19th and early 20th centuries was due in a large way to the work of Aboriginal children. Some as young as two years old, they were forced to work with white people building the region's industries. This book is the first full-length examination of their exploitation. Drawing on extensive original research, Dr Shirleene Robinson brings to light the exploitation and abuse inflicted on Aboriginal children to benefit white settlers. Many of these children were part of Queensland's earliest 'stolen generations'. Their forcible removal from their parents and family groups caused great pain and suffering that is still felt today.' (Source: Publisher's website)
This book contains:
1. Aboriginal Child Labour in Social and Legal Contexts
2. Kidnap and Barter: The Trade in Aboriginal Child Workers before 'The Act, 1842-1897
3. Aft 'The Act': The Mission-Based Trade in Aboriginal Child Labour, 1897-1945
4. Aboriginal Child Labour in the Field of Domestic Service
5. Aboriginal Child Labour in the Pastoral Industry
6. Aboriginal Child Labour in the Pearling and Bkche-de-Mer Industries
7. Aboriginal Child Labour in Other Fields of Employment
'This significant work, drawn from the author’s doctoral studies, is the first to report on Aboriginal child labour in Queensland. It follows excellent historiographies by Ros Kidd (1997) and Dawn May (1994), as well as that of Hetherington (2002) in Western Australia, but extends these by focusing exclusively on children. The author is generous in acknowledging the seminal works that pre-date hers, and in providing a comprehensive review of the historical literature centring on the Indigenous labour sphere. Thus this work fills an important gap because there has been little recognition of the role played by Aboriginal child labour in the formation of the post-colonial state.' (Introduction)
'This significant work, drawn from the author’s doctoral studies, is the first to report on Aboriginal child labour in Queensland. It follows excellent historiographies by Ros Kidd (1997) and Dawn May (1994), as well as that of Hetherington (2002) in Western Australia, but extends these by focusing exclusively on children. The author is generous in acknowledging the seminal works that pre-date hers, and in providing a comprehensive review of the historical literature centring on the Indigenous labour sphere. Thus this work fills an important gap because there has been little recognition of the role played by Aboriginal child labour in the formation of the post-colonial state.' (Introduction)
