Australian History of Blackface

Photograph

Victoria, 1870-1890 (circa).

Western Australia, 1896-1897.

Victoria, 1890-1900 (circa).

New South Wales, 1908.

South Australia, 1912.

South Australia, 1914.

Victoria, 1915.

South Australia, 1922 (circa).

South Australia, 1922.

Tasmania, 1927.

South Australia, 1929.

Victoria, 1930.

South Australia, 1936.

South Australia, 1949.

South Australia, 1986.

Newspaper

New South Wales, 1839.

South Australia, 1841.

New South Wales, 1851.

Poster

Victoria, 1929.

Sheet Music

Tasmania, 1906.

Meta

Blackfaced Robbery

“A very visible improvement has taken place in the style of the n*gger singing by the Messrs. Howsons and Hydes since our former notice of their performances... In his department as leader of the Ethiopian portion of the entertainments Mr.Hydes' energetic drollery takes a very prominent and very popular place. In fact his wit and humour are the very life and soul of the company, and by its exercise he contrives to keep his audience at all events, such portion thereof as know how to laugh, in a perpetual titter. The next most prominent character in the black-faced melodies is Mr. Frank Howson, whose [act]... forms a very welcome diversification of the amusements.”

“Mammy’s Lilly Coon” sheet music. Words by Bertha Southey Brammall. Music by W.W. Thornthwaite. Launceston, Tasmania, 1906.

When searching the archives for documentary evidence of black face in Australian history, one of the two most common false-positive results returned is for “blackfaced robbery”. I imagine this refers to nighttime robbery where someone used burnt cork (or something similar) to hide their identity, but I haven’t yet turned up anything that confirms or contradicts my suspicions.

In the above article, Sir William Denison objects against the death penalty for the crime, particularly in the Mahide case where, apparently, the jury wanted to avoid just that outcome. But law research is not my forte, so if anyone knows where to find the case notes please comment.

Newspaper article explaining Thomas D. Rice’s “Jim Crow” blackface minstrel character to an Adelaide readership.

Anniversary of the Colony. Mr Solomons personated “Jem Crow” [sic] (the Colonel, who was on the bench, required an explanation of the character of said Jem Crow). “Sir,” said Price, “He was dressed in a pair of britches, covered with patches, had on a hat without a crown, his face blackened, and had a wooden leg.”

“Black and White Minstrel troupe entertaining at the seaside.” Victoria, 1890-1900.

“Studio portrait of Hill and Grant, possibly a comedy act. One performer is wearing black-face, the other clown make-up.” Broadmedows, Victoria. 10 May 1915.

Actor in costume of blackface and sacking dress. Playing the character from the play based on Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. The play was performed in Melbourne at the Princess Theatre, circa 1870.

“Children in blackface at Yarrango State School. Some have left an area around one eye unpainted, some around their nose and some on a cheek.”

Yarrango State School, Karawinna District, Victoria, Australia, circa 1930.

Balladonia Telegraph Station employees as blackface entertainers. Balladonia, Western Australia, 1896.

Costume party. Adelaide, South Australia, 1912.

"10 Little N*gger Boys." Hornsby Public School, New South Wales, 1908.

'N*gger Minstrel Concert', Lilydale N*gger Minstrels, Lilydale, Victoria, 7 September 1929.

Centenary Picnic, Moculta, South Australia, 1936.