Perth Prohibited Area Explained

The Perth Prohibited Area was an area of the metropolitan area in Perth, Western Australia that Aboriginal people were not permitted to enter without a permit. The prohibition was in force from 1927 to 1954, and covered approximately wholly within the boundaries of the City of Perth. The ban was instigated by A. O. Neville, the protector of Aborigines, and proclaimed under the Aborigines Act 1905 (WA) in 1927.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Aboriginal people working in the city had to leave by 6pm or face the threat of arrest and a fine,^{[4] [5] [6]} or in some cases a custodial sentence.^{[7] [8]} The edict was actively enforced, with the records of the Central Police Office showing 78 indigenous people charged from July 1949 to February 1950.^[9] The historian Stephen Kinnane has suggested that Neville did not like the fact that Aboriginals were beating white Australians at competitive events held in White City.

See also

• Aboriginal history of Western Australia
• Sundown town, the American equivalent

Notes and References

1. News: NEWS AND NOTES. . . XLIII . 7,737 . Western Australia . 19 March 1927 . 20 August 2020 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
2. Web site: Perth's Prohibited Area. 2020-08-19. Culture WA.
3. News: BAN ON NATIVES. . . 53 . 15,914 . Western Australia . 30 June 1937 . 20 August 2020 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
4. News: LAW COURTS. . . 63 . 18,867 . Western Australia . 2 January 1947 . 20 August 2020 . 14 (SECOND EDITION.) . National Library of Australia.
5. News: PROHIBITED AREA. . . 62 . 18,822 . Western Australia . 9 November 1946 . 20 August 2020 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
6. News: IN PROHIBITED AREA . . 64 . 19,265 . Western Australia . 14 April 1948 . 20 August 2020 . 13 . National Library of Australia.
7. News: NATIVES GAOLED. . . 63 . 18,978 . Western Australia . 13 May 1947 . 20 August 2020 . 12 (SECOND EDITION.) . National Library of Australia.
8. News: LAW COURTS . . 64 . 19,287 . Western Australia . 10 May 1948 . 20 August 2020 . 17 . National Library of Australia.
9. News: Carmody. Rebecca. 2019-12-29. The little-known story of when Perth banned Indigenous people from the city and suburbs. ABC News.