Secrets of Dawn

Dawn Magazine was created by the Aborigines Welfare Board (1940-1969) as “a magazine for the Aboriginal people of New South Wales”, highlighting the work of the Board, sharing photos and stories from stations, reserves and training institutions throughout New South Wales. There are over 100 references to the Cootamundra Domestic Training Home for Aboriginal Girls (1912-1969) across volumes of Dawn Magazine.

The covert purpose of Dawn Magazine was to falsify the reality of the living conditions and wellbeing of forcibly removed children, through cleverly fabricated photo opportunities and articles, promoting to First Nations readers the “advantages” of assimilating into colonised White Australian society “by active and willing cooperation”.

The award-winning Secrets of Dawn exhibition features content from Dawn Magazine alongside contemporary works from Coota Girls Survivors and descendants, exposing the tactics used under the Aborigines Protection Act (1909-1969) to progress the agenda of assimilation of First Nations people.

Through powerful truth-telling, Secrets of Dawn honours Coota Girls Survivors and all Stolen Generations Survivors who, despite efforts to eradicate First Nations people and culture through assimilation, have resisted and persisted through truth-telling, healing and self-determination.