In the making of this map, we acknowledge that First Nations children succeeded in an effective education system for thousands of years before the colonial invasion of Australia.   

This map gives the locations/information of ‘Aboriginal Schools’ (as they were then called), most of which were on Aboriginal missions or reserves *, and operated across New South Wales (NSW) from the 1800s until 1968.  

Under colonisation, the Public Instruction Act (1880) created a state-wide system where every family was obliged to send their child to school. Since then, there have been several iterations of policy on the education of First Nations children into the western system of education. Initially, separate schools for First Nations students were established. During the Protectionist era (c.1870s-1930s) the movement of Aboriginal people was controlled by the Aborigines Protection/Welfare Board. Aboriginal Schools provided basic education for First Nations students usually with the white reserve manager (or his wife) also acting in the role of schoolteacher.  

After 1940, during the Assimilation era (c.1930s-1960s), Aboriginal schools were merged into local public (government) schools and managed by the Department of Public Instruction. This transition occurred over years and in 1968, the title ‘Aboriginal School’ was abolished, and the few surviving schools were given public school status. We have included the date that each Aboriginal school closed. Where these schools were renamed as Public Schools and are still operating, we have noted this.  

The documentation of the education of First Nations students in NSW has, at times, been scant or ambiguous. If you would like to contribute or update any information, please contact purai@newcastle.edu.au 

 *Where available, the Aboriginal Reserve (AR) number is included with the entry. Please note, many reserves have more than one AR number. AR numbers changed when, for example, the size of a reserve was changed or the parish in which it was located was re-gazetted. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are advised that this map may include language/views from the period which may be considered inappropriate or even offensive today. 

Felton, Philip, (2013) The “lost” Aboriginal reserves of New South Wales. Unpublished manuscript. MS 5007, AIATSIS Archival Collections, Canberra.  

Fletcher, J., (1989a) Clean, clad and courteous: A history of Aboriginal education in New South Wales, Southwood Press Pty. Ltd., Marrickville, NSW.  

Fletcher, J., (1989b) Documents in the history of Aboriginal education in New South Wales, Southwood Press Pty. Ltd., Marrickville, NSW.   

NSW Department of Education and Training. Government Schools in NSW 1848-2003 (6th Ed.), NSW Department of Education and Training, 2003.  

NSW Government - Education. Master dataset: NSW government school locations and student enrolment numbers. https://data.nsw.gov.au/data/dataset/nsw-education-nsw-public-schools-master-dataset. Accessed 30/4/25. 

NSW Government - Education. Historical information about NSW government schools (1848-2019). https://data.nsw.gov.au/data/dataset/nsw-education-historical-information-of-nsw-government-schools. Accessed 30/4/25.  

We are indebted to the members of Local Aboriginal Land Councils for their assistance in verifying information relating to their local history.