Largely unreported in the press or historical documents, Indigenous Australians traveled to Britain in significant numbers from the late eighteenth century through to the twenty-first century. Some of these travelers were performers, footballers, boxers, jockeys, athletes, soldiers, sailors and political activists. Innovative observers, they were intent on gaining as much information about the world around them as they could, utilising that knowledge within their rapidly changing world.
Other Aboriginal people had horrific experiences. Kidnapped and enslaved, they were eventually discarded on the far side of the world far from their homeland.
In this Annual History Lecture, Professor John Maynard will explore the significant and largely missed movement of Aboriginal people to Britain from the late eighteenth century through to the twenty first century. Through his lecture he will analyse memory and location in an Aboriginal context, far removed from the Australian experience, providing an Indigenous perspective and insight about these journeys, asking the key questions –
- Why were they there?
- What were the differences in experiences of these Aboriginal travelers?
- Did they come home, and if so, what experiences, memories, observations and understandings did they bring back with them of the lands outside Australia?
In the lead up to 2020 and the 250th Anniversary of the arrival of James Cook and the Endeavour, this Annual History Lecture turns our attention toward Aboriginal people at the heart of empire rather than the periphery.
When: Tuesday 3 September 2019, 6 – 9 pm
Where: the Mint, 10 Macquarie Street, Sydney
Cost: Various prices (see booking site via button above)
More information: Click here