THE ABORIGINAL POPULATION OF ALICE SPRUNGS

283 Pages·2017·21.65 MB·English

THE ABORIGINAL POPULATION OF ALICE SPRUNGS:
A DEMOGRAPHIC STUDY
By
Noor Ahmad Khalidi
A thesis submitted for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
at the Australian National University
Department of Demography
February 1989
Declaration
Except where otherwise indicated this
thesis is my own original work.
Noor Ahmad Khalidi
February 1989
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For Nadira, Abubaker and Mariam and my parents who were always a source of
encouragement and support to me.
Aknowledgments
I would like to express my gratitude to Professor J.C. Caldwell, Head, Health Transition Centre,
National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, ANU (former head of Department of
Demography, ANU) for his encouragement and support of my decision to commence research
at the ANU. For this matter, I thank The Australian National University, and specially the
Department of Demography, in the Research School of Social Sciences, for giving me
admission and a PhD scholarship to undertake and complete this work.
I am most grateful to my supervisors Dr. Alan Gray, Senior Research Fellow at the National
Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, the Australian National University, Dr. Lincoln
Day, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Demography, Research School of Social
Sciences, ANU and my advisor Dr. Elspeth Young from the Department of Geography, the
Australian Defence Force Academy, for their guidance, prompt and at times critical review, and
valuable comments, without which I would never have completed this work, especially within the
specified three years period.
Many thanks to the Aboriginal people of Alice Springs, especially those who kindly answered my
questionnaire. Thanks are also due to the Tangentyere Council executive and members,
especially Geoff Shaw, Bob Durnan and Bob Boughton in Alice Springs for their support in the
implementation of the household survey and providing me with the office and the necessary
facilities during my field work from November 1986 to June 1987 in Alice Springs. Thanks to the
interviewers for their efforts in completion of the household survey in the camps and in the town
proper, especially to Maureen who efficiently conducted most of the interviews. I also thank
Fiona who was so helpful and efficient in data entry onto the computer.
I take the opportunity to thank Margaret Kelly, Statistics Sister and Colleen Mack, Medical
Records Clerk at the Rural Health Section of the Health Directorate Regional Office in Alice
Springs, who gave me and my wife Nadera access to Aboriginal medical records of births and
deaths at their office. Here, I should thank my wife Nadera who spent many days in the medical
records section, collecting the necessary data for my study. Thanks are also due to the
Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Darwin and his staff at the Alice Springs Registry,
who kindly granted me access to the registration records, which was important for the
completion of this thesis.
Thanks are also due to the Northern Territory Department of Community Development (now
Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services)^ the Aboriginal Development
Commission and Alice Springs Town Council for their financial support of my field work in Alice
Springs. Many thanks are due to the North Australian Research Unit (NARU) of the ANU and
especially to Mr. Jim Toner for providing accommodation for me and my family in Alice Springs.
My thanks also go to the Alice Springs Housing Commission for providing me with the
addresses of their Aboriginal tenants and the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress for giving
me the addresses of their patients which I used to locate Aboriginal householders in Alice
Springs Town proper.
I am specially grateful to Mrs. Wendy H. Cosford, Research Assistant, Department of
Demography, The Australian National University who has from time to time read and edited
drafts of this thesis.
Canberra, February 1989.
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Abstract
Our knowledge of Aboriginal demography in Australia at a national level is limited by the lack of
conformity of the census counts on the size of the population and the unavailability of vital data.
Hence, regional and small area studies were found useful to reveal the recent patterns of
Aboriginal demography. This study begins with a review of Aboriginal demography at a national
level. The distinct demographic characteristics of the Aboriginal population are pointed out in
comparison with the total population of the country. The study then focuses on a regional level,
Central Australia, for a closer examination of mortality and fertility levels, patterns, trends and
differentials. It confirms that the levels of Aboriginal mortality and fertility in Central Australia are
substantially higher than those of the total population of the country and are similar to those
found for the Aboriginal population elsewhere; however, it registers, for the first time through a
single study on a particular population, the occurrence of a process of steady decline in
Aboriginal mortality and establishes that this decline in mortality is largely due to the reduction in
deaths from diseases of the circulatory and respiratory systems, which are in the meantime still
the leading causes of death of the Aboriginal people. Aboriginal fertility was found to be very
high in the early ages of childbearing and the observed decline is mostly due to the reduction of
fertility of the older women of 30 and over and younger women of 15-19. A detailed study of the
demographic characteristics of the Aboriginal population in Alice Springs revealed that while as
a whole the characteristics of Alice Springs Aborigines are similar to those of Aborigines
elsewhere, different patterns of socio-economic and historical conditions have led to the
emergence of two demographically distinct Aboriginal groups in Alice Springs; those Aborigines
who live in the town proper and those who live in the town camps. While the majority of those
Aborigines who migrated to the town proper came from other urban centres, most of the town
campers are rural-urban migrants mostly from ether Aboriginal settlements and stations in
Central Australia.
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Table of Contents
Page
Aknowledgements iv
Abstract vi
Table of Contents vii
List of Tables xii
List of Figures xviii
List of Maps xix
Chapter 1: Rationale of the Study and Research Organization t
1.1 Background and research needs 1
1.2 Previous research 4
1.3 Potential value of a comprehensive population research in
Central Australia for Aboriginal and other organizations 6
1.4 Objectives and data requirements 9
1.4.1 Objectives of the study 9
1.4.2 Data requirements 9
1.5 Sources of data 11
1.5.1 Population census data 11
1.5.2 Household survey, 1987 11
1.5.3 Registration of births and deaths 14
1.5.4 Medical records of births and deaths 15
1.6 Organization of the thesis 16
Chapter 2: What is known of Aboriginal Demography? 18
2.1 Population size, spatial distribution, change and
residence stability 18
2.2 Age and sex distribution 25
2.3 Households and marital status 29
2.4 Dynamics of population change 33
2.4.1 Fertility 33
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2.4.2 Mortality 38
2.5 Summary 44
Chapter 3: Alice Springs Aborigines in the Historical Perspective of Central Australia 47
3.1 Introduction 47
3.2 Geographical conditions 47
3.2.1 Location 47
3.2.2 Climate 50
3.2.3 Aborigines in the ecosystem of the region 50
3.2.4 Aboriginal tribal areas in the region 53
3.3 Early contacts and colonization of the centre 55
3.4 The expansion of colonization 57
3.4.1 Pastoral stations 57
3.4.2 Mining camps 59
3.4.3 The influx of non Aboriginal population 59
3.4.4 Government policies and legislation 62
3.5 Policy changes in the post war era 66
3.5.1 The process of acquiring equal status in the law 66
3.5.2 Creation of government settlements 63
3.6 The post-war development of AliceS prings 70
3.7 Consequences of growing contact on the Aboriginal
population 72
3.7.1 The effects on size and spatial distribution of the
Aboriginal population 72
3.7.2 The emergence of the mixed descent population 74
3.7.3 The development of Aboriginal town-camps in Alice Springs 77
Chapter 4: Aboriginal Mortality in Central Australia 83
4.1 Introduction 83
4.2 Sources of data 84
4.2.1 Mortality data 84
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4.2.2 The population 85
4.3 Analytical approach 86
4.4 Findings 89
4.4.1 Mortality levels 89
4.4.2 Age-specific mortality rates 92
4.4.3 Leading causes ofd eath 95
4.4.4 Life expectancy 101
4.4.4.1 Contributions of the various causes of death and age-specific
mortality rates in improvements in expectations of life 101
4.4.4.2 Temporary expectations of life 106
4.5 Summary 108
Chapter 5: Aboriginal Fertility in Central Australia 120
5.1 Introduction 120
5.2 Sources of data 121
5.2.1 Fertility data 121
5.2.2 Population data 122
5.3 Analytical approach 123
5.4 Findings 125
5.4.1 Fertility levels and patterns 125
5.4.2 Fertility differentials 132
5.5 Summary 139
Chapter 6: Demographic Characteristics of Alice Springs’
Aboriginal Population 140
6.1 Population size and growth 140
6.2 Population composition 143
6.2.1 Sex composition 143
6.2.2 Age structure 147
6.2.3 Marital status 152
6.3 Household structure 157
6.3.1 Household size 157
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6.3.2 Pattern of relationships within the households 159
6.3.3 Household types 161
6.4 Summary 166
Chapter 7: Residence Stability and Migration 169
7.1 Introduction 169
7.2 Volume of migration 170
7.3 Duration of residence 171
7.4 Places of origin and migration streams 174
7.5 Who are the migrants? 185
7.5.1 Age and sex differentials 185
7.5.2 Education 186
7.5.3 Employment 188
7.6 Reasons for migration 188
7.7 Out-migration 188
7.8 Volume and pattern of short term movements 190
7.9 How does the spatial mobility of Alice Springs Aborigines
compare to other populations? 191
7.10 Summary 192
Chapter 8: Social, Cultural and Economic Characteristics of the
Aboriginal Population of Alice Springs 195
8.1 Introduction 195
8.2 Languages 196
8.3 Education level 298
8.4 Housing conditions and facilities 200
8.4.1 Housing delivery system 201
8.4.2 Dwelling types 201
8.4.3 Crowding 202
8.4.4 Access to facilities 207
8.4.5 Possession of household goods 207
8.5 Economic activities 208