Thornton and his duty as Protector

Thornton states ‘One of my first anxieties on assuming the duty of Protector was to endeavour to get all the Aborigines away from Sydney and suburbs and back into their own districts, and I took such steps as would attain that object'. The historian Maria Nugent writes: ‘The measures included closing down the metropolitan Aboriginal camps and prohibiting the provision of rations to city dwelling Aborigines.’ However Thornton continues to tolerate the camp at La Perouse. Koori and other homeless migrants turn their attention to other areas of the outer harbour like Balmain, for places to settle.