Kanaka Corner / Douglas Samuel Solomons

SPF/3661

fonds

1914

Graphic Materials, Photographs

9658018

1 photographic print - gelatin silver - 9 x 14 cm

Up to 62,000 Pacific Island labourers were brought to Australia between 1863 and 1904. Although they were supposed to have signed contracts and be in Australia voluntarily, they were often tricked or forced into labour, a practice known as ‘blackbirding’. Commonly called kanakas, these labourers were most often used for difficult farm work in northern New South Wales and Queensland. They were eventually banned from entry to Australia and most, but not all, already here were deported between 1904 and 1908.
Douglas Samuel Solomons, son of amateur photographer Louis Solomons, took pictures around the Tweed River region to record the lives of its inhabitants. He signed his pictures D.S.S.
References:
Library Acquisition file
“Australian South Sea Islanders: A century of race discrimination under Australian law.” Australian Human Rights Commission. Accessed 16 May 2022. https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/race-discrimination/publications/australian-south-sea-islanders-century-race
“Kanaka”. A Dictionary of World History. : Oxford University Press. Accessed 16 May 2022. https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199685691.001.0001/acref-9780199685691-e-1962.
“Photographers of the Tweed.” Tweed Regional Museum. Accessed 16 May 2022.
https://museum.tweed.nsw.gov.au/explore/people-places/people/photographers

Kodak Austral postcard format photograph depicting a camp of kanaka labourers standing around their tents and two corragated iron lean-tos, one probably a kitchen. Surrounding the tents are trees, some logged.

Out of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Title and date taken from inscription on the front lower right of photograph.

'"KANAKA Corner" 20-3-14. Bridge Ck. Kunighur. D.S.S.' written on lower right front of photograph, 'Post Card. Correspondence. Address only. Kodak. Austral.' printed on back.