Approval of the Booderee National Park Management Plan 2015-2025
1924First school is built at Wreck Bay.
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1924 First school is built at Wreck Bay.
1925 New South Wales Aboriginal Protection Board accepts the Australian Government offer to administer the Wreck Bay ‘reserve’ under the provision of the Aboriginal Protection Act 1909 (NSW). First manager is appointed.
1929–1949 Fish Protection Ordinance 1929–1949 has a provision that excludes Aboriginal residents of Jervis Bay Territory from paying fishing licence fees. Aboriginal initiative to establish a fishing industry in the region.
1940 Aboriginal Protection Act 1940 reflects shift from protectionism to assimilation policies in New South Wales. Aboriginal people are issued with ‘dog tags’. Cultural expression continues to be outlawed to fit in with the assimilation policy of the day.
1954 Wreck Bay Reserve is gazetted under the provisions of the Aborigines Welfare Ordinance 1954 (ACT). Provisions of the Aborigines Protection Act 1940 (NSW) no longer apply.
1965 Aborigines Welfare Ordinance 1954 (ACT) is repealed, thus effecting the transfer of the ‘reserve’ from the Aborigines Welfare Board to the Commonwealth Department of Interior. At the same time, the reserve is abolished and declared an ‘open village’. Assimilation policy of the day brings about attempts to house non-Aboriginals at Wreck Bay, which the Community opposes. Efforts are again made to relocate the Community once again. Wreck Bay School is moved to Jervis Bay.
View image in the official source 1965–1966 Wreck Bay Progress Association is formed to counter the open village status and to secure land tenure, thus securing the Community’s future.
1971 Proclamation under the Public Parks Ordinance 1928 (ACT) of the Jervis Bay Nature Reserve over the majority of the Jervis Bay Territory includes the non-residential land of the reserve.
1973–1974 The Wreck Bay Housing Company and the Wreck Bay Women's Committee are formed. Land rights issues are the main subject for discussion between the Community and the Commonwealth Government.
1979 Blockade of the Summercloud Bay Road prevents the general public’s access to the Summercloud Bay day visitor area. This action is taken as a result of the land ownership issue.
1985 Announcement by the Prime Minister of plans to transfer the Fleet Base and Armaments Depot to Jervis Bay. The Wreck Bay people oppose this decision because of the impact on the cultural and natural environment of the region. The land rights movement accelerates.
1986 The Aboriginal Land Grant (Jervis Bay Territory) Act 1986 is enacted. The Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community secures tenure of 403 hectares of land via the Land Grant Act and the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council is established.