One Blood is really the best overall account of Christian mission engagement with Indingeous Australians and thanks to Concilia it has been republished as an eBook. Its not Victorian specific but it does have many references to and details of a number of the Victorian missions. It’s a huge tome and at times, a fairly ‘dry’ account but also deeply moving through an understated power. This book was very important in my personal ’conversion’ to Indigenous Australia.

This powerful book is an account of Nathanael Pepper, an early Aboriginal Christian from north western Victoria but its so much more than this. Its really an in depth exploration of the understandings, both historical and contemporary of Christian conversion and cultural understandings amongst Indigenous peoples. Highly recommended.

Peter (based in Melbourne) was very involved with the Uniting Church for many years and helped to establish the Uniting Aboriginal and islander Christian Congress (UAICC) a unique and significant national self governed structure within the Uniting Church. It’s an excellent book with a deep theological apologetic for empathetic partnering with Indigenous peoples. Highly recommended. 

Similar in style and content to Acting in Solidarity.

Gary Presland is an archaeologist and one of Victoria’s authorities on the pre-European landscape of the state. He presents good, basic information about aspects of Indigenous life and the environment of Melbourne pre 1830’s. His is more of an accessible scientific approach that that of a historian, sociologist, anthropologist or theologian.

Richard Broome is considered to be one of the states leading historians and experts on Indigenous history. Excellent if you want a broader understanding of historical, social and political changes involving Aboriginal Victorians over the last 200 years.

Although written a long time ago this is still really the only full account or biography of this incredible Victorian. Christian pastor, elder, community leader, politician, state governor and sportsman. As with each of these books, this provides invaluable understandings of both the personal and wider issues and forces at work that have shaped Indigenous issues in Victoria to what they are today.

A largely unknown hero of Aboriginal activism – also a strongly committed Christian and resident of Footscray! Even if you google William Cooper and read a bit about him online I’d recommend it!

An Age book of the Year in 2012, this is a fantastic account of the ‘birth’ of Melbourne and again the wider socio-political forces at play through the mid 1800’s. It is powerfully insightful in regards to the impacts on Indigenous Victorians. All Victorians should read this one! 

If you’re interested in any actual sites of significance to Aboriginal people in and around Melbourne, this book is like a self guided tour companion. I love taking people to some of these sites and contrasting how many are unknown, uncared for or disregarded. In particular, the Batman treaty site is a weed infested dumping spot on the Merri Creek in inner Fitzroy!

Again out of print but a fascinating and detailed account of the Maloga Mission and Daniel Matthews, and independent Scottish missionary on the Murray River near Echuca in the late 1800’s. What makes this so compelling is the impact and number of Indigenous Christian leaders that have emerged from this Yorta Yorta community (Maloga eventually was absorbed into the better known Cummeroogunga Mission). William Cooper, Sir Doug and Lady Gladys Nicholls, Margaret Tucker, Bill Onus, Jimmy Little, The Sapphires and many others all came from this community and had a significant local and national impact. 

Sympathetic and detailed account of a mission that was considered to have ‘failed’ near the township of Birregurra in Western Victoria. Again, this book provides fascinating insights into not only the issues at the time, but also the resulting influences of Christian and church engagement amongst Aboriginal Australians. 

Although not Victorian (or Christian) in content this is a brilliant book in regards to shedding light on what many would say is the God given intelligence and sophistication of much of traditional Aboriginal culture.

Mark is one of the leading academics and theologians at Whitley College in Melbourne. He is an excellent authority on both the old testament and post colonial theological thinking. Challenging but excellent book

This book was released to accompany the excellent SBS series of the same name a number of years ago and although not specifically Victorian, it does have an excellent chapter on Victoria that is presented by Indigenous voices and academics. An excellent and accessible broad coverage of history and issues from an Indigenous perspective.

A great online (PDF) resource with many perspectives on Indigenous and non-indigenous voices sharing about ways to work and lead together