What did the South Sea Islander Project reveal?
Family history research often leads us down the path of discovering how our ancestors came to be here in Australia… they bought passage on a ship, or they were sentenced to transportation; but did you know that some were kidnapped? At the recent meeting of the Caloundra Family History Research Inc., we enjoyed a fascinating presentation by Dr Jon Prangnell, Deputy Head of School & Chief Examiner, Reader in Archaeology, Director of Teaching & Learning, and Associate Professor at the School of Social Science.
Dr Jon Prangnell with Roz Kuss and Valerie Thornton June 2023 at the General Meeting.
Jon spoke about the University Queensland South Sea Islander Project and in particular, the recent excavations at the Pioneer Sugar Mill Estate at Brandon near Ayr. Established in 1881, the mill had a workforce of South Sea Islanders who had been blackbirded (kidnapped) from their island homes prior to the introduction of an indenture system.
The team utilised the latest in technological equipment, historical mill records and oral stories from the local South Sea Island community in Ayr. The archaeological excavations examined the social history and the historical archaeology of South Sea Islander dwellings – made in the traditional Islander style with Australian materials. This work leads to a better understanding of another facet of our Queensland history.
Judi Waller
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 20 July 2023 at 1:30 pm. Guest speaker will be Bribie Island local, Judi Waller, a first-time author who will be sharing her tips on writing.
Topic: “The Journey Toward Publication of My Memoir”
Venue: CFHR rooms, Corbould Park, via Gate 2, Pierce Avenue, Caloundra
Non-members: Please register at hello@caloundrafamilyhistory.org.au.