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 Image number: 28873-0001-0002
View of smoke stack at Farleigh Sugar Mill near Mackay, Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0004
Percy and Roy Mooney's house in Habana in the Mackay district, Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0006
Percy and Roy Mooney outside their house in Habana near Mackay, Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0008
Roy Mooney holding a painting of himself when he was young in Habana, Queensland Image no: 28873-0001-0013
Maud Corowa working in her office in Mackay, Queensland, 2000 Image number: 28873-0001-0025
Ken Backo, a machine operator for Boral Limited in Lakes Creek, Rockhampton, Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0039
Group of Australian South Sea Islander men watching the hungi pit in Lakes Creek, Rockhampton, Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0049
Children ride the merry-go-round on Recognition Day at Emmaus College, Rockhampton, Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0054
Les Tomarra near Bowen Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0080
Railway track laying machine in the Bowen region, Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0085
Paul Tatou operating a railway track laying machine near Bowen, Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0092
Mural of Australian South Sea Islanders painted onto the side of the IGA shopping centre in Bowen, Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0097
Sandhills South Sea Islander Historical Cemetery at Joskeleigh, Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0127
Bob Parter's grave at the Sandhills South Sea Islander Historical Cemetery at Joskeleigh, Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0131
Old house belonging to the Malamoo family at Joskeleigh, Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0138
Cath Warcon and students at Taranganba State School, Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0144
Mick Parter in the workshop at Pierce Engineering Pty. Ltd. in Rockhampton, Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0145
Evelyn Parter, an Australian South Sea Islander, sitting inside her home in Joskeleigh, Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0151
Abandoned well at the site of the old sugar mill at Farnborough Image number: 28873-0001-0154
Headstone of Robert Terare in the Bundaberg Cemetery, Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0194
Danny Tanner standing next to an Australian South Sea Islander grave at the Bundaberg Cemetery, Queensland Image number: 28873-0001-0198