The Northern Territory Aboriginals Act 1910 was an Act of the South Australian parliament (Act no. 1024/1910), assented to on 7 December 1910. The long name of the Act was "An Act to make Provision for the better Protection and Control of the Aboriginal Inhabitants of the Northern Territory, and for other purposes", and it established the Northern Territory Aboriginals Department and created the office of Chief Protector of Aborigines. On 1 January 1911, the Northern Territory was transferred from South Australia to federal government control. The 1910 Act was repealed by the federal government's Aboriginals Ordinance 1918 on 13 June 1918, which nevertheless carried forward many of the provisions of the 1910 Act. A 1939 amendment replaced the position of Chief Protector with Director of Native Affairs.
The Welfare Ordinance 1953 repealed the Aboriginals Ordinance 1918, coming into force in 1957, along with the Wards Employment Ordinance 1953, together making all Aboriginal people in the Territory wards of the state, with the government having control over many aspects of their lives. With this act, the new position of Director of Welfare replaced the Director of Native Affairs.
Each of these laws gave the state the power to place children in institutions, which contributed to the situation of people later dubbed part of the Stolen Generations. The 1953 Ordinances were repealed by the Social Welfare Ordinance 1964, which removed many of the restrictions over the lives of Aboriginal people.