Mr Watkins, 18 November 1869
'There were 38 children of various ages on the station, but they were not taught any useful occupation. Instead of being trained so that they might become useful servants to the farmers in the neighbourhood, they were rather encouraged to marry and remain about the station in semi-idleness. The number of them was increasing, but he regretted to say that every generation was becoming much whiter, and there was reason to fear that in course of time a little colony of half-castes would spring up, causing a great deal of trouble and expense to the State. While the land at Coranderrk was not used for the benefit of the aborigines - indeed such a large area was more than was necessary for them - the inhabitants of the district were deprived of the opportunity of selecting any of it, and hence settlement was retarded'₇.

Rev. Alexander Mackie, 18 November 1881
'If it would injure the blacks to remove them from Coranderrk - those that have been imported to Coranderrk - how would you manage to remove all the half-caste children from their fathers and mothers. Would that not be the greatest cruelty to them? - Certainly not. I see no cruelty in it - not when the parents are willing they should go. If the blacks did not wish to go I think it would be cruel to make them go. They have their feelings. I do not think it beneficial to drive them away'₁₀.