On May 27, 1967, Australians voted in a referendum to change how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were referred to in the Constitution. How far have we come since 1967?
Right Wrongs commemorates the 50th anniversary of the referendum of 27 May 1967 and is a partnership project between the ABC, NSLA and AIATSIS. The website sets the scene and chronicles what happened in the lead up to 1967 and the events surrounding the Referendum, as well as what has happened in the 50 years since. It is a mixture of archival and contemporary stories from photos, videos and ephemera to audio packages, text and audience contributed content.
Right Wrongs was an initiative of NSLA’s Indigenous Project.
Bibliography
Australian NSLA member libraries and AIATSIS contributed materials from their collections to the Right Wrongs website, including oral histories, ephemera, newspapers, serials and manuscripts and photographs. These are listed by contributing organisation below, with the call number in brackets.
AIATSIS
Aboriginal Tent Embassy set up by in Brisbane during the Commonwealth Games, 1982, photograph, Identity Collection (IDENTITY.001.DF)
Action Sheet for Campaign Committee Members, ephemera, Armidale Association for the Assimilation of Aborigines (MS 2636)
An Urgent Appeal for Action, ephemera, Armidale Association for the Assimilation of Aborigines (MS 2636)
Aunty Celia and Granny Monsell campaigning, 1967, photograph, June Bond Collection (BOND.J01.BW)
Charles Perkins is greeted by students at Inverell Airport, photograph, The Freedom Ride: Images from 1964-65 (CURTHOYS.A01.DF)
Charles Perkins with others at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Canberra, 1972, photograph, Identity Collection (IDENTITY.001.DF)
Chicka Dixon being interviewed for radio, Melbourne, c1970s, photograph, Chicka Dixon Collection (DIXON.C01.DF)
Chicka Dixon speaking at a conference in Melbourne, 1980, photograph, Chicka Dixon Collection (DIXON.C03.DF)
Citizens, ephemera, Department of Native Welfare, WA (p WES)
Demonstration supporting a referendum to alter the constitution, Parliament House, 30 November 1965, photograph, Chicka Dixon Collection (DIXON.C01.DF)
Faith Bandler being interviewed during a demonstration, Parliament House, 1965, photograph, Chicka Dixon Collection (DIXON.C01.DF)
FCAATSI poster featuring a photograph of Janelle Marshall as a young baby, ephemera (M 945)
Harry, Pattie and Lorna Hall in Walgett, NSW, 1965, photograph, The Freedom Ride: Images from 1964-65 (CURTHOYS.A01.DF)
“How to mark your ballot-papers: referendums”, Chief Electoral Office, Canberra, ephemera, Rare Pamphlet Collection (Rpf AUS)
Interview with Charles ‘Chicka’ Dixon, conducted by Peter Read, 1987, audio, Interviews about politics from 1957 to 1987 (READ_P01)
Interview with Lyall Munro Senior, conducted by Peter Read, audio, Interviews about politics from 1957 to 1987 (READ_P01)
Michael Anderson approached by police at Aboriginal Tent Embassy demonstration, 1972, photograph, Jeff Cutting Collection (CUTTING.J01.BW)
Michael Anderson, Billy Williams and Bertie Williams sitting outside the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Canberra, 1972, photograph, Identity Collection (IDENTITY.001.DF)
Neville Bonner addresses protest rally, Post Office Square, Brisbane, 1986, photograph, Cherbourg: Community portraits from the ‘After 200 Years’ project (CHERBOURG.001.BW)
Petition for a Referendum to Remove Discrimination Against Aborigines from the Federal Constitution, ephemera, Armidale Association for the Assimilation of Aborigines (MS 2636)
Petition for a referendum to remove discrimination against Aborigines from the Federal Constitution, ephemera, Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement (Australia)( Rp FED)
Recommendation on Campaign Structure, FCAATSI, ephemera, Armidale Association for the Assimilation of Aborigines (MS 2636)
Referendums on the Proposed Laws (Constitution Alteration—Parliament & Aboriginals) poster, ephemera, Records of the Aboriginal Publications Foundation (MS 3781)
“Right to Vote”, 1965, ephemera, Aboriginal Natives Electoral Education Collection
Right to vote protest, Alice Springs, 27 May 1967, photograph, Jim Downing Collection (DOWNING.J01.CS)
Students sitting outside a Student Action for Aborigines (SAFA) bus, February 1965, photograph, The Freedom Ride: Images from 1964-65 (CURTHOYS.A01.DF)
Unofficial census taking, Ernabella, 1967, photograph, Community life of the people of Ernabella during 1967-1971 (HILLIARD.W01.BW)
e Library of Tasmania
Fanny Cochrane Smith wearing a belt with wallaby (?) pelts, photograph (SD_ILS:616013)
Songs and speech of Fanny Cochrane Smith, audio, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery collection (SD_ILS:777246)
National Library of Australia
A good citizen who needs a mate, newspaper, The Canberra Times (19-Jul-68)
A new home for the Dixons, newspaper, The Canberra Times (15-Jan-68)
Alick Jackomos interviewed by Barry York, audio (2010898)
Big Smiles for the “YES” vote, serial, Australian Woman’s Weekly
Chicka Dixon interviewed by Gary Foley, audio (TRC 3282)
James Keeffe interviewed by Pat Shaw, audio, Parliament’s Oral History Project (TRC 4900/43)
Letter to Jessie Street, manuscript, Papers of Jessie Street (MS 2683, series 10, item 124)
Papers of Bryan Keon-Cohen, manuscript (MS 9518)
Peter Rice interviewed by Ann-Mari Jordens, audio, Bringing Them Home oral history project (TRC 5000/236)
Portrait of Jessie Street, photograph (PIC Box PIC/6938)
Roy Barker interviewed by Rob Willis, audio, Bringing Them Home oral history project (TRC 6180/14)
Where 50 aborigines live in squalor four miles from thriving Bega, newspaper, The Canberra Times (28-Aug-64)
Northern Territory Library & Archive
1967 referendum: as it affected the people of the Northern Territory and in particular, those in Alice Springs, manuscript, Alice Springs Public Library Collection (AS COLL 324.62 NINE)
Assorted images from the Charles Eaton Collection, photographs
Assorted images from the Darren Clarke Collection, photographs
Assorted images from the Jack Henry Collection, photographs
Assorted images from the NT Government photographer Collection, photographs
Counting of heads, newspaper, Northern Territory Times
Protest Move, newspaper, Centralian Advocate
Referendum vote protest march, newspaper, Centralian Advocate
Wave Hill homestead, photograph, Ellen Kettle Collection (PH0127/0144)
State Library of New South Wales
Aboriginal Rights Referendum Rally, Wynyard Park, 1967, ephemera, Tribune negatives including the Aboriginal Rights Referendum Rally in Wynyard Park (ON 161/208)
Aborigines Bill [Proof Copy, NSW Government, 1968], ephemera
Aborigines Day of Mourning, 26 January 1938, photograph, Man Magazine (Q 059/9)
Day of Mourning Poster, 1938, ephemera
Notice of Referendums, Sydney Morning Herald, April 29, 1967, newspaper
Vote YES for Aboriginal rights, ephemera, Communist Party of Australia records (MLMSS 5021/113)
Wynyard Park Rally photographs, photograph, Tribune negatives including the Aboriginal Rights Referendum Rally in Wynyard Park (ON 161/208)
State Library of Queensland
6837 Justice Moynihan – Determination re Mabo Case Papers 27 Feb 1986, manuscript (Box 1305)
Commonwealth Games 1982, photograph, John Leslie Protest photographs of the 1982 Commonwealth Games (28599)
Frank W. Moorhouse Films 1930-1956, video (30149)
Girls’ dormitory at the Palm Island Aboriginal Settlement, 1931, photograph (166098)
Selected images from the Lambert McBride Collection, photographs, Lambert McBride Collection
State Library of South Australia
Apinya, a Pitjantjatjara boy, 1940, photograph, Mountford-Sheard Collection (PRG 1218/34/1132G)
Atomic bomb test, South Australia, 1953, photograph (B 72429)
Children lined up at Ernabella School, 1940, photograph, Mountford-Sheard Collection (PRG 1218/34/1262h)
Classroom at Ernabella School, 1940, photograph, Mountford Collection (PRG 1218/34/1262yj)
Eric Api’s letter, from the Ernabella newsletter, Mountford Collection (266.5 a)
Farm workers with bales of wool in front of the Artimore Station woolshed, photograph, Artimore Station Collection (B 8376)
FCAATSI poster, 1967, ephemera, Records of the Aboriginal Education Foundation of South Australia (SRG 102, Box 7)
Rocket Range Menace, ephemera, Duguid Collection (PRG 387/1/8/1)
Rocket Range, the Aborigines and YOU, ephemera, Duguid Collection (PRG 387/1/8/2)
School at Ernabella Mission, photograph, Ernabella Collection (B 61588)
Stop the bridge, ephemera, Kumarangk Collection (ZPS 10034)
That, sir, is a fine banner 1967, newspaper, Southern Cross newspaper (282.9423 d)
The Rocket Range, Aborigines and War, ephemera, Duguid Collection (PRG 387/1/8/3/1)
The walk to save Kumarangk, video (SAV 864)
Vote ‘Yes’ for Aborigines, FCAATSI, 1967, ephemera, Union of Australian Women Collection (SRG 781/32/5/2)
State Library Victoria
A handwritten note about John Tjantjika, photograph, Records of the Council for Aboriginal Rights (Vic.), 1951-1975 (MS 12913, Box 12/6)
Aborigines Advancement League, Newsletter, July 1968, serial, Latrobe Collection (SLT 301.4506 AB8)
Aborigines’ Advancement League, Smoke Signals, October 1961, ephemera, Latrobe Collection (JKP 572.994005 SM7)
Australian Aborigines’ – Records of the Council for Aboriginal Rights, manuscript, Australian manuscripts Collection (MS 12913, Box 26/1)
Carlton and United Breweries, The Australian Aborigine, manuscript, Records of the Council for Aboriginal Rights (Vic.), 1951-1975 (MS 12913, Box 26/1)
Cartoon by Les Tanner, 1967, ephemera, Pictures Collection (H98.204/50)
How to vote card, 1967, ephemera, Riley Political and ephemera Collection
How to vote card: Australian Labor Party, ephemera, Riley Political and ephemera Collection
How to vote card: Liberal Party of Australia, ephemera, Riley Political and ephemera Collection
Joyce Tapakari, a stationhand’s wife, with daughter Bernadette and baby Roderick, photograph, Records of the Council for Aboriginal Rights (Vic.), 1951-1975 (MS 12913, Box 12/6)
Koori Arts Collective Ltd, FCAATSI Oral History Project, video, FCAATSI Oral History Project
Latest Voting – Records of the Council for Aboriginal Rights (Vic.), 1951-1975, ephemera, Australian manuscripts Collection (MS 12913, Box 21/3)
Letter written by Mary Bennett to request the old age pension for Alec Bilson and Lulu Bilson, photograph, Records of the Council for Aboriginal Rights (Vic.), 1951-1975 (MS 12913, Box 12/6)
Mrs Lulu Bilson, an Aboriginal woman who lost her right hand after a snake bit her and the tourniquet was left on for too long, photograph, Records of the Council for Aboriginal Rights (Vic.), 1951-1975 (MS 12913, Box 12/6)
Pastor Doug Nicholls, photograph, Records of the Council for Aboriginal Rights (MS 12913, Box 12/5)
Rights and advancement, serial, Latrobe Collection (SLT 301.4519915 R44)
Rights and advancement, photograph, Latrobe Collection (SLT 301.4519915 R44)
Sign here for equal rights for Aborigines, ephemera, Records of the Council for Aboriginal Rights (MS 12913, Box 29)
Some facts about the Aborigines – Records of the Council for Aboriginal Rights, ephemera, Australian manuscripts Collection (MS 12913, Box 29)
The Aborigines and you – Records of the Council for Aboriginal Rights, ephemera, Australian manuscripts Collection (MS 12913)
The council for Aboriginal rights will hold a Public Meeting, ephemera, Records of the Council for Aboriginal Rights (MS 12913, Box 9/8)
State Library of Western Australia
Aboriginal man and child at camp, photograph, Western Australian newspaper collection of photographs (BA597/8)
Aboriginal people with humpy, photograph, Western Australian newspaper collection of photographs (BA597/6)
Australia’s coloured minority: its place in the community, manuscript (305.89915 NEV)
Cyril Gare, personal film – Allawah Grove party, video, Cyril Gare Collection (b1453598)
Eye testing at (possibly) Warburton, photograph, Western Australian newspaper collection of photographs (BA597/9)
House girls at Roy Hill Station, 1955, photograph, Collection of photographs of Roy Hill Station (003845D)
Interview with Kenneth Colbung by Erica Harvey, audio, East Perth Redevelopment Authority project (OH2546/3)
Ken Colbung & Mrs E. Bruen with Aboriginals camped in an old Quarry, Middle Swan, photograph, 5470B Collection (5470B)
Portrait of Alec Bilson, an experienced dogger and expert tracker at Mount Margaret Mission, photograph, Mary Montgomerie Bennett Collection (BA2641/11)
Portrait of Angel Sangka, a station hand, and his wife Daisy Yinimari, photograph, Mary Montgomerie Bennett Collection (BA2641/16)
Portrait of Jacob Bilson, photograph, Mary Montgomerie Bennett Collection (BA2641/13)
Portrait of Jim Brown, photograph, Mary Montgomerie Bennett Collection (BA2641/2)
Portrait of Joe Mason, photograph, Mary Montgomerie Bennett Collection (BA2641/7)
Portrait of Joe Mason, photograph, Mary Montgomerie Bennett Collection (BA2641/6)
Portrait of Joyce Tapakari, a stationhand’s wife, from Kalgoorlie in 1960, photograph, Mary Montgomerie Bennett Collection (BA2641/8)
Portrait of Norman Bilson, a stockman, photograph, Mary Montgomerie Bennett Collection (BA2641/17)
Portrait of Reg Cable, Mandu, photograph, Mary Montgomerie Bennett Collection (BA2641/15)
Portrait of Yruabru Adelaide Johnston, photograph, Mary Montgomerie Bennett Collection (BA2641/3)
Possib(l)y Warburton Mission, photograph, Western Australian newspaper collection of photographs (BA597/10)
Ration distribution, Warburton Mission, photograph, Western Australian newspaper collection of photographs (BA597/12)
Roebourne Gaol, photograph, Stuart Gore Collection (022189PD)
Tin dressing by Aboriginal Australians at Moolyella, photograph (1177B/2)
