In 1882 a census listed 151 Aboriginal people and 24 "half-castes" at Brewarrina, many reported to be suffering from venereal diseases and "addicted to the habits of intemperance".

In 1886 the Aborigines Protection Association established a mission on a reserve of 5,000 acres (2,000 ha), 10 miles (16 km) east of the town on the opposite bank of the Barwon River,[4][1] at the Quantambone stock camp.

During the 1920s and 1930s many Aboriginal people were brought in from places such as Tibooburra, Angledool, Collarenebri and Walgett due to other stations were closed down.

The Mission Church was built by Duncan Ferguson from bush timber and corrugated roofing iron with an earthen floor.

[1] In the early period the Mission contained a Managers House, Butchers Shop, School, Church, small treatment-room and hall.

On ration day once a fortnight a supply of vegetables such as potatoes, onions, sugar, tea leaves, rice, flour, salt, pepper, syrup, and half a bar of soap.

[5] Also according to the RCDIAC report, the APA would take absconding indentured Aboriginal apprentices to the mission dormitories and mete out harsh punishment.

In the 1930s, the APA undertook more forced removals of Aboriginal people from different groups, bringing them to the already overcrowded mission from as far away as 350 mi (560 km).

[1] The Welfare Board tried to move the mission residents into the town, with the aim of cultural assimilation, but no rental homes were available to Aboriginal people, and the council worked against integration.

The Welfare Board then announced a small new reserve, comprising 30 cheap houses built on an exposed, treeless hill within half a mile of the town, which they called West Brewarrina, and in 1965 all of the mission residents were moved there.

The place retains its high integrity in its cultural, spiritual, social and historical values to many Aboriginal people across NSW.

[1] Brewarrina Aboriginal Mission Site was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 21 July 2006 having satisfied the following criteria.

It is associated with the significant historical phase as being the first institution formally established by the Aboriginal Protection Board in 1886.

Established in 1886, Aboriginal people were relocated 10 miles east of the town on the opposite bank of the Barwon River.

Brewarrina Mission has a strong and special association for many Aboriginal people for its historical, social and cultural values and is a place of belonging to those of the Ngemba and Murwarri tribes.

Brewarrina Mission is highly significant to many Aboriginal people within NSW to their cultural heritage values.

Being the site of the first Aboriginal Protection Board institutionalised community the area has the attributes to demonstrate the way of life and customs of those who lived and died on the Mission.

[1] This Wikipedia article was originally based on Brewarrina Aboriginal Mission Site, entry number 01732 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on 2 June 2018.