mission station

mission station (plural mission stations)

1. (Australia, New Zealand) A reserve or other tract of land administered by religious missionaries for the spiritual and material welfare of Aboriginal people. [from 19th c.]
   • 1854, Electa Fidelia Jones, Stockbridge, Past and Present, Or, Records of an Old Mission Station:

     Stockbridge lay in the direct route, and it was constantly feared that the French and Indians would be down from the north, and sweep the little mission station before them; but the tide divided, and passed to the east and west of us, the hostile not daring to encounter the friendly Indians.

   • 1934, Anna Morgan, “Under the Black Flag”, in Heiss & Minter, editor, Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature, Allen & Unwin, published 2008, page 29:

     We wanted to remain on the land and make our living however we could. But, no; the Board would not have that; we must live on the mission station.