In April, records are completed for the 1828 Census. Approximately 40,000 Europeans occupy the “settled districts” of NSW and approximately 3,000 Aboriginal people are counted. Alexander McLeay from the Colonial Secretary’s office directed Magistrates: “I am directed to inform you that it is His Excellency’s intention to issue Blankets and Slops to the Black Natives…in order that a suitable quantity…may be immediately forwarded to you for distribution, I have to request that you let me know…the number of the [A]borigines in your District, distinguishing the several tribes, and the number of Men, Women, and Children belonging to each tribe…”
The “Aboriginal Returns” for NSW at this time are:
Of the total of 2,979 Aboriginal people recorded as living in “settled districts” in NSW during 1827, nearly half live in the wider Hunter region (approximately 1,412). The Tribes and Districts in which they reside are:
Wallis’ Plains (Maitland) 50 men, 35 women, 35 children,
- Tribes not stated
totalling 120
Paterson’s Plains
totalling 132
- Old Settlers Tribe 19 men, 21 women, 11 children, totalling 51
- Williams River Tribe 18 men, 19 women, 16 children, totalling 53
- Mt Johnston Tribe 17 men, 7 women, 4 children, totalling 28
Patrick’s Plains (Singleton) and Luskintyre
totalling c 300
- Tribes not stated
- Breakdown of male, female, children not recorded
Hunters River
totalling c 100
- Tribes not stated
- Breakdown of male, female, children not recorded
Newcastle
totalling 760
- Coal River Tribe 50 men, 40 women, 50 children, totalling 140
- Ash Island Tribe 40 men, 35 women, 45 children, totalling 120
- Reid’s Mistake Tribe 50 men, 50 women, 50 children, totalling 150
- Tugrah Beach Tribe 70 men, 60 women, 70 children, totalling 200
- Kangaroo Ground Tr 55 men, 50 women, 45 children, totalling 150