'My heart is breaking'

A Joint Guide to Records about Aboriginal People in the Public Record Office of Victoria and the Australian Archives, Victorian Regional Office.

This 200-page book provides a comprehensive guide to official records for the period 1836-1975 relating to the indigenous people of Victoria, held by the Public Record Office of Victoria and the Australian Archives, Victorian Regional Office.

The joint guide is a response by both institutions to the recommendation of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody that government archives make records relating to Aboriginal people more accessible to allow Aboriginal people to re-establish community and family links. Its publication also falls into he 1993 International Year of the World's Indigenous People.

Jim Berg of the Gunditjmara Tribe and Chairperson of the Koorie Heritage Trust writes in an introduction:

'My Heart is Breaking' will be an important resource for cross cultural training programs. I also recommend it to all Koories, Koorie organisations, schools, educational institutions and individuals who are interested in the history of Victoria.

The first part of the guide gives information about undertaking research at the two archives and lists over one hundred series of records, giving information about their contents and date range. Also included is a listing of personal case files which will be of value to those interested in genealogical research in particular.

Part 2 provides glimpses of the people and events through the presentation of excerpts from the holdings of both archives. The title of the book comes from one of these excerpts. Margaret Harrison a resident of Ebenezer Station wrote in 1884:

Please would you allow me to have my daughters with me... Please do not disappoint me for my heart is breaking to have them with me. Please send them up here as I cannot leave this station.

The volume is fully indexed and features both photographs and illustrations.

Copies are available from

- Commonwealth Government Book Shops and