Association for the Protection of Native Races (APNR)

The Association for the Protection of Native Races (APNR) was formed at a meeting held on 21 February 1911. The prime initiative for the formation of the APNR was at least partly that of the Australian Board of Missions. Their aim was to place the care of Indigenous peoples under the Federal Government. Part of the Resolution moved stated that:

There is an urgent necessity for the establishment in Australia of an Association for the care of those native races which live either within or near our own borders.

The original title was the “Association for the Protection of Native Races in Australasia and Polynesia”. The constitution was adopted on 21 August 1911 and revised in 1928. A statement issued about that time, talks of protecting these people from injury, cruelty and injustice, and that APNR sought “to ameliorate the pitiful conditions of these people.”

The influence of organised religion continued to be seen in ANPR. Meetings were usually held in Bible House, one of the longest serving secretaries was the Rev Morley, whilst Miss Ruth Swann, also a long serving secretary, was a practising Quaker. The APNR evidently involved itself in many day-to-day issues, but also had much to say in wider matters, such as citizenship rights and the federalisation of matters affecting Indigenous peoples. 

There is no exact date to be found of when the APNR winds up, but there are letters in 1961 regarding its end. 

There is APNR correspondence within series 733 of the papers of AP Elkin, who was President, 1933-1961.

Related records held in P130/12/138 - 158, AP Elkin Personal Papers, Series 734.