Moorhouse, Matthew (1813 - 1876)

Summary

Matthew Moorhouse was a medical practitioner who migrated to South Australia in 1839. For 17 years he was Protector of Aborigines, resigning in 1856 to visit the United Kingdom. As Protector he was conscientious in carrying out his duties, but became increasingly uncomfortable about some aspects of those duties. They were outlined in the South Australian charter, and incorporated philanthropic and evangelical elements as well as emphasising the notion of impartial justice. Moorhouse made the first of his trips into distant parts of the colony within a few weeks of arriving in South Australia. At times he travelled to investigate incidents between settlers and the Indigenous people and conduct autopsies. As Protector he held a magisterial role, with instructions to educate Aboriginal people about British law. Moorhouse's instructions also stated that he should become acquainted with Indigenous language and dialects, customs and tribes. In 1846 he published book on the language of the Ngayawang people along the Murray River. Much of his time was spent directing educational programs for Aboriginal people. Throughout his protectorship Matthews wrote regular reports to government on his activities. During his time as Protector Matthews became interested in phrenology and craniology, and made a collection of Aboriginal remains. Some of these were given to Joseph Davis, a friend from his Staffordshire days and a well-known craniologist and collector of anthropological remains.

Details

Chronology

1829

Education - Apprenticed as apothecary and surgeon, Wakefield, United Kingdom

1834

Education - Clinical training, North London Hospital

1836

Career event - Established practice as surgeon, Hanley, Staffordshire, United Kingdom

1839

1839

Life event - Migrated to South Australia

1839 - 1856

Career position - Protector of Aborigines, Colony of South Australia

1857 - 1859

Life event - Visited the United Kingdom

1860 - 1862

Career position - Member of the House of Assembly, South Australia

Related entries

Published resources

Books

• Moorhouse, Matthew, A vocabulary, and outline of the grammatical structure of the Murray River language: spoken by the natives of South Australia, from Wellington on the Murray, as far as the Rufus (Adelaide: Andrew Murray, 1846), 64 pp. Details

Book Sections

• 'Moorhouse, Matthew (1813 - 1876), medical practitioner, civil servant and pastoralist' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 5: 1851 - 1890 K-Q, Nairn, Bede, Serle. Geoffrey and Ward, Russel, eds (Carlton, Vic.: Melbourne University Press, 1974), pp. 283-4, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/moorhouse-matthew-4239. Details

Journal Articles

• Furphy, Samuel, 'He "does not speak of civilizing the Australians now": Matthew Moorhouse, craniology, and Aboriginal protection in South Australia, 1839-65', Australian Historical Studies, 57 (1) (2026), 23-49, https://doi.org/10.1080/1031461X.2025.2538450. Details