The materiality of South Sea Islander heritage in Queensland, Australia

Abstract eng:
South Sea Islanders (SSI) were brought as indentured laborers to work on Queensland sugar plantations from the New Hebrides (Vanuatu) and Solomon Islands from 1863 until their forced deportation in 1904 under the White Australia policy. In Queensland SSI endured harsh conditions, mistreatment, minimal wages and an extremely high mortality rate. Following deportation, the Australian South Sea Islanders (ASSI) who remained faced increased racism and discrimination on the margins of white society. In 1994 the Australian Government recognized the ASSI as a distinct disadvantaged ethnic group and Queensland followed in 2000. In this paper I discuss three sources of materiality of importance for reimagining and revitalizing expressions of heritage and identity in the contemporary ASSI community and strengthening linkages to their Melanesian origins. These include historic photographs from the indentured labor period, SSI associated artefacts at the Queensland Museum, and heritage places encompassing culturally meaningful landscapes and archaeological sites.

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