National Museum of Australia - 1905-1911 expeditions

1905-1911 expeditions

Warning: This exhibition and website contain some images of nudity and people in distressing circumstances. Visitors should also be aware that the exhibition and website include names and images of deceased people that may cause sadness or distress to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Government expeditions in the Top End

In 1905 Herbert Basedow accompanied South Australian Government Geologist HYL Brown and mining inspector Lionel Gee on a seven-month geological investigation of the Northern Territory's western coast and hinterland.

Brown was impressed by the young Basedow, who worked alongside him and contributed to the final report and geological map. Basedow also investigated the Territory's early mining history, including Chinese mining methods, and joined the South Australian Governor on a sightseeing and buffalo-shooting excursion to the Adelaide River.

Basedow returned to the Northern Territory in 1911 as Chief Medical Inspector and Chief Protector of Aborigines, but resigned from the post after only 45 days. During his brief appointment Basedow accompanied one of his inspectors on a short trip to Melville and Bathurst islands to assess the health of Aboriginal people living there.

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Two groups of men standing facing each other holding spears, Anson Bay, Northern Territory probably 1905. The men hold their spears at head height. A smaller group of younger Aboriginal males stands between the larger groups, also holding spears. An Aboriginal man sits on the ground in the far right foreground, looking toward the groups.

Men, possibly of the Wogait people, Anson Bay, Northern Territory probably 1905

photograph by Herbert Basedow
reproduced from glass plate negative
National Museum of Australia

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Four Aboriginal people and three non-Aboriginal men with horses, Northern Territory 1905 or 1911. Two of the non-Aboriginal men stand at the left and right of the horses. The third sits on a horse at the rear. Three Aboriginal women chained together stand in front of the horses; an Aboriginal man with a neck band and long chain stands to the right of them.

Prisoner, charged with cattle killing, with female 'witnesses', Northern Territory 1905 or 1911

photograph by Herbert Basedow
reproduced from glass plate negative
National Museum of Australia

Fort Hill, Darwin, Northern Territory 1905 or 1911

photograph by Herbert Basedow
reproduced from glass plate negative
National Museum of Australia