Blanket Lists
Traditionally, animal skin cloaks were the main form of insulation from the elements for Aboriginal people from much of the cooler, southern parts of the Australian continent. The cloaks were made from either kangaroo, wallaby or possum skins with some being fashioned from up to 80 pelts, taking over 12 months to acquire and make.
In 1814, Governor Macquarie initiated the official distribution of blankets to Aboriginal people. He hoped the adoption of blankets would encourage civilised habits and cooperation with the settlers. In time blankets were usually distributed by magistrates or police annually on 1st May, the Queen's Birthday.
Government agents distributing blankets to Aboriginals, ca. 1890-1898, by Kerry & Co.
Photograph, PX*D 398/13
Over time Aboriginal people came to depend on the issue of blankets and rations from Government. Especially since their traditional lands were being taken up by white settlers and preventing them from pursuing traditional food-gathering and hunting as well as their usual cultural practices
To account for expenditure on Aborigines, Government officials created what are called "Blanket lists", that detailed people's English name, Native Name, Probable Age, Number of wives, Children, Tribe, and District of Usual Resort.
Police were also required to report annually on the conditions of the Aboriginal people in their districts. Some of these were quite detailed returns or censuses on individuals and communities.
Although these records marked the westernisation of Indigenous culture they now provide one of the most valuable and reliable bases for family and community history research. For many Aboriginal family historians, the blanket list or return is literally the end of the line in terms of the written evidence.
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> View the entire manuscript of blanket lists, via the Library's online catalogue 
TRANSCRIPT: Numbers of blankets sened [sic] out at Bathurst to Aborigins [sic] in 1867. manuscript. A3016.
| No | Date | Name | Residence | No. of blankets received with date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24th May 1867 | James Nagle, Begy Dury | Watton | |
| 2 | " | Edwo Nerin, Bebesal | Kellenbutte | |
| 3 | " | Geoe Lemons, Noon nan ath | Saltrem | |
| 4 | " | Thos Bendaluna, Narmell | Saltrem | |
| 5 | " | Anthony Suttor, Canemly | Mount Bank | |
| 6 | " | Gelderoy, Gilebelly | Kellenbutte | |
| 7 | " | Nammy Gelderoy | Kellenbutte | |
| 8 | " | Geo Suttor, Mammdully | Saltrem | |
| 9 | " | Bidoh Suttor, Brumbambell | Saltrem | |
| 10 | " | Georgiamia Suttor, Gurkell | Saltrem | |
| 11 | " | James, Cumbo | Bentinck [indecipherable] | |
| 12 | " | John Bullock, Cumbo | Swallow Creek | |
| 13 | 25th May | Ann Suttor, Brinekealy | Wallembutta | |
| 14 | " | Water, Water | Wallembutta | |
| 15 | 30th May | Sarah Medly, Jerimin | Kellenbulla |
On hands 7
RW Waters, Senr Sergt
Numbers of Blankets sened out to Aborigins in Bathurst district in the year 1868
| 1 | 25-May-68 | Georgiamia Suttor | Saltrem | ||
| 2 | 25-May-68 | Bridget Suttor | Saltrem | ||
| 3 | 25-May-68 | Georgie Suttor | Saltrem | ||
| 4 | 25" | John Bullock | Kings Creek | 20 | [indecipherable] March 1868 |
| 5 | 25" | Gelderoy | Killenbutta | ||
| 6 | 25" | Amery Gelderoy | Killenbutta | ||
| 7 | 25" | Edward McNerin | Thee Weeks | ||
| 8 | 25" | Sally Meadly | Mr Pipers | ||
| 9 | 26" | Ann Walker | Stoney creek Mr Piper | ||
| 10 | 26" | James Needle | Killenbutta, Ths Anderson | ||
| 11 | 27" | George Lemons | Saltrem | ||
| 12 | 27" | Sarah Medley | Killenbulla |
Sened out 12
On hands 15
RN Waters, , Senr Sergt
Bathurst
27th May 1868
| No | Date of Issue | Aborigins Name and Residence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14-May-69 | Georgy Suttor, Saltrem |
| 2 | " | Georgianna Suttor, Saltrem |
| 3 | " | Bridget Suttor, Saltrem |
| 4 | " | Mary Ann Elliot, [indecipherable] of Saltrem |
| 5 | " | Mary Ann Elliot, Sultrem |
| 6 | 22" | George [indecipherable], Killoughbutted |
| 7 | 22" | Edward McMevin, Killoughbutta |
| 8 | 23" | Ann Walker,"Bonagelle', Jillana |
| 9 | 26" | James Combo, William Street |
| 10 | 26" | Eliza McNerin, Killenbulla |
| 11 | 26" | Nanny Gelderoy, Killenbulla |
| 12 | 27" | James R Piper, Tellewan |
| 13 | 27" | James Needle (Bedy Dury), Chorley Suttor |
Received no Blankets for 1869
| No | Date of Issue | Aborigins Name and Residence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 May 1870 | Bridget Suttor - Queen of Bathurst, Saltrem |
| 2 | " | George Suttor, King of Bathurst, Saltrem |
| 3 | 21" | Geoge Nuranda, at Andersons, Kellenbutta |
| 4 | " | Wm Murray"" |
| 5 | " | Anthony Carmody"" |
| 6 | " | George Anna Suttor, Barrack Lane |
| 7 | " | John McNerill, Killenbutta [indecipherable] |
| 8 | 25" | Dorey Parker, with Meller of Watten |
| 9 | " | John Bullock, Fellima |
| 10 | 31" | Jimmy Miranda, Killenbutta |
| 11 | " | Nanny Murray, At Andersons |
| 12 | " | Sarah Medley, At Andersons |
| 13 | " | Anna Walker At Pipers Tulleway |
| 14 | " | Randolph Piper" |
| 15 | " | Davy Tracker, Bathurst |
| 16 | " | James Combo at the Vale |
| 17 | 16th June | Sam Peacock |
| 18 | " | Mary Dowling Connell |
| 19 | 28" | Albert Street, Brucedale |
| 20 | " | Sambo, Barthampton |
Received 19 Blankets6 April 1870
| No | Date of Issue | Aborigins Name and Residence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 May 1871 | Doug Smith, Bathurst |
| 2 | " | George Suttor, Saltrem |
| 3 | " | Bridget Suttor, Saltrem |
| 4 | 24" | Sir Walker, Saltrem |
| 5 | " | Hamish Harper, Deleval |
| 6 | " | Mary Anne Elliott, Wondmedale creek |
| 7 | " | Noony Suttor, Cheskies creek |
| 8 | 26" | Joseph Donnelly, Bathurst |
| 9 | " | Randolph Piper, Stoney creek |
| 10 | " | Mary Anne Elliot, Wondmedal Creek |
| 11 | " | George Mirand, Killenbutta |
| 12 | " | Jimmy Miranda," |
| 13 | " | Sally Medley," |
| 14 | " | Wm Murray," |
| 15 | " | Amy Murray," |
| 16 | " | Anthony Suttor," |
| 17 | " | Betty" |
| 18 | 27" | Mary Parker" |
| 19 | 4-Jun | Albert Street"Gumbo', Brucedale |
Received 19 Blankets for Aborigins for the year 1871
Bathurst 12 May 1871
RN Waters, Senior Sergeant
| No | Date of Issue | Aborigins Name and Residence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 3 | ||
| 4 | ||
| 5 | ||
| 6 | ||
| 7 | ||
| 8 | ||
| 9 | ||
| 10 | ||
| 11 | ||
| 12 | ||
| 13 | ||
| 14 | ||
| 15 | ||
| 16 | ||
| 17 | ||
| 18 | ||
| 19 | ||
| 20 |
Received 20 Blankets for Aborigins for the year 1872
Bathurst 12 April 1872
RN Waters, Senior Sergeant
| No | Date of Issue | Aborigins Name and Residence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23-May-72 | Anna Walker |
| 2 | " | Randolf Thomas Piper |
| 3 | " | George Anna Suttor |
| 4 | 24" | Henry Horry at Broadwater |
| 5 | 25" | George Suttor, Saltrem |
| 6 | 25" | Mary Elliott, Winmedale |
| 7 | " | Charles Johnston, at John Darises, Tambarona Road |
| 8 | 27" | Les Watkin at Andersons Kellenbulla |
| 9 | 27" | Wm Murray" |
| 10 | " | Ann Murray" |
| 11 | 27" | Doug Smith, Bathurst |
| 12 | 1-Jun | Mary Ann Parker, at Mrs West's |
| 13 | 7" | Joe Donnelly, at Mr Rankin's |
| 14 | 15" | Mary Ann Glass at Rankins |
| 15 | 10-Jul | Anthony Suttor at Andersons |
| 16 | Sept | George Miranda" |
| 17 | " | Jimmy Miranda, Killenbula |
| 18 | " | Ned Miller |
| 19 | " | Eliza Miller |
| 20 | " | Sarah Medley |
Received 20 Blankets 12 April 1872 for the year of 1872
RW Waters, Senior Sergeant
| No | Date of Issue | Aborigins Name and Residence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 May 1873 | George Suttor, Saltrem |
| 2 | 23" | Doug Tracker, Bathurst |
| 3 | 23 | Anthony Suttor at Andersons |
| 4 | 23" | Mary Ann Elliott, Wimedale |
| 5 | 23" | Anna Walker, [indecipherable] |
| 6 | 24" | Randolph Thos Walker, Stoney Creek |
| 7 | 24" | Mary Ann Elliott, Wimedale |
| 8 | 26" | Joe Donnelly, Stoney creek |
| 9 | 27" | Henry Benjamin Bullock, Pipers, Kings Creek |
| 10 | 31" | Charley Johnson at Bomins |
| 11 | 6-Jun | Mary Ann Parker at Wests |
| 12 | " | Georgianna Suttor At Andersons |
| 13 | " | Les Watkins at Andersons |
| 14 | " | Wm Murray, Killenbulla |
| 15 | " | George Mirana, Killenbulla |
| 16 | " | Sarah Medley |
| 17 | " | Jane Miranda, Rankins |
| 18 | " | Sarah Mately, Anderson |
| 19 | " | Wm Murray," |
| 20 | " | Nanny Murray" |
| No | Date of Issue | Aborigins Name and Residence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 May 1874 | Mary Ann Elliott, Wimidale, Cranstons |
| 2 | 20 May 1874 | Mary Ann Elliott, same |
| 3 | 20 May 1874 | Georgianna Suttor, Blacksland |
| 4 | 20 May" | Henry [indecipherable] Tracker, Bathurst |
| 5 | 20th" | George Sutton, Woodside |
| 6 | 21" | Mary Ann Parker, Durham St |
| 7 | 23" | Jane [indecipherable] Miranda, Saltrem |
| 8 | 29" | Hanna Walker, Stoney creek |
| 9 | 29" | Randolf Thomas Piper, Stoney creek |
| 10 | 29" | Jo Donnelly, Stoney creek |
| 11 | 14 Oct 1874 | Sarah Medley, Killenbulla |
| 12 | 14" | Nanney Murray same |
| 13 | 14" | Wm Murray same |
| 14 | 15" | Nane Gilderon same |
| 15 | 16" | Sarah Piper same |
| 16 | 17" | Murrenbidge, same |
| 17 | ||
| 18 | ||
| 19 | ||
| 20 |
Received 16 Blankets from Sydney for the year 1874
Bathurst, 20 March 1874
RN Waters, Senr Sergt
| Last Supply | Supply Required | ||
| No of Blankets | Date of Receipt | On Hand No required | Actual no of aborigines in Distt |
| 16 | 20 March 1874 | Nil 17 | 17 |
Number of Blankets sened out to Blacks in 1875
Received 17 Blankets from Sydney for the year 1875
2 April 1875, Bathurst
RN Walker, Senior Sergeant
| No | Date of Issue | Aborigins Name and Residence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jane Clay | Mirand, Rankins of Saltrem |
| 2 | Mary Ann Parker | Rankins of Saltrem |
| 3 | Georgie Sutton | Bathurst |
| 4 | George Mirande | Tokomas Anderson, 17 May 75, Killenbutt |
| 5 | Mary Ann Elliott | Womedal, Cranstons, 21 May 1875 |
| 6 | Mary Ann Elliott | same same |
| 7 | Margret Elliott | same same |
| 8 | Doug Smith | Stoney Creek at Pipers, 21 May 75 |
| 9 | Jo Donnelly | Same H Pipers 21 May 75 |
| 10 | John Carter | Stoney Creek |
| 11 | Dorah Medley | Killenbulla |
| 12 | Bonna Gella | Stoney Creek |
| 13 | Randolf Thomas Piper | Stoney Creek |
| 14 | Hany James Tracker | Bathurst |
| 15 | Sarah Piper | Stoney Creek, Killenbutta |
| 16 | Hannah Walker | Stoney Creek |
| 17 | Wm Murray | Killenbutta |
