Australian South Sea Islanders Today

More than 1000 contemporary images donated by photographer Brian Rogers to the State Library of Queensland begin to document the people and places that make up the many Australian South Sea Islander communities along Queensland's coast.

In 2000, an exhibition called Refined White was developed by the Australian Sugar Industry Museum in Mourilyan in north Queensland. During its development, a suite of contemporary black and white images was taken to complement a selection of historical images from the John Oxley Library. These images reflected the themes of Work, Family, Food, Religion, and Recreation. This collection of images is the first major contribution of Australian South Sea Islander life to the State Library’s collection since the early historical images dating back to 150 years ago.

Photographer Brian Rodgers

Railway crossing on the road heading towards Farleigh Sugar Mill, near Mackay, Queensland, 2000

View of smoke stack at Farleigh Sugar Mill near Mackay, Queensland

Percy and Roy Mooney's house in Habana in the Mackay district, Queensland

Percy and Roy Mooney outside their house in Habana near Mackay, Queensland

Roy Mooney holding a painting of himself when he was young in Habana, Queensland

Maud Corowa working in her office in Mackay, Queensland, 2000

Ken Backo, a machine operator for Boral Limited in Lakes Creek, Rockhampton, Queensland

Group of Australian South Sea Islander men watching the hungi pit in Lakes Creek, Rockhampton, Queensland

Children ride the merry-go-round on Recognition Day at Emmaus College, Rockhampton, Queensland

Railway track laying machine in the Bowen region, Queensland

Paul Tatou operating a railway track laying machine near Bowen, Queensland

Driving through the Glasshouse Mountains District,1935

Sandhills South Sea Islander Historical Cemetery at Joskeleigh, Queensland

Bob Parter's grave at the Sandhills South Sea Islander Historical Cemetery at Joskeleigh, Queensland

Old house belonging to the Malamoo family at Joskeleigh, Queensland

Cath Warcon and students at Taranganba State School, Queensland

Mick Parter in the workshop at Pierce Engineering Pty. Ltd. in Rockhampton, Queensland

Evelyn Parter, an Australian South Sea Islander, sitting inside her home in Joskeleigh, Queensland

Abandoned well at the site of the old sugar mill at Farnborough

Headstone of Robert Terare in the Bundaberg Cemetery, Queensland

Danny Tanner standing next to an Australian South Sea Islander grave at the Bundaberg Cemetery, Queensland