Lost Lands Report 2004

Over a number of years, many Aboriginal people have expressed a desire for Government to undertake a review of lands in Western Australia which were once reserved for Aboriginal use but, for one reason or another, are no longer part of the Aboriginal estate.

The Lost Lands Report attempts to identify all lands originally set aside for Aboriginal "use and benefit" but which are no longer available and also provides an informative account of the changing legislative, administrative and social contexts of these reserves.

The Department of Indigenous Affairs has no legislative carriage over of any lands outside of the Aboriginal Lands Trust estate unless there are Aboriginal heritage associations. ‘Lost Lands’ applications will almost certainly pertain to land administered under the Land Administration Act 1997 and associated Land legislation as administered by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure.

Support for applications for “Lost Lands” by the Department of Indigenous Affairs is generally limited to providing technical land administration information.

Published: 2004.