Guide to the Christmas Island photographic collection by Margo Neale, 1900 - 1973, 1900-1973

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Summary

Collection number:
PIC/21312
Extent:
83 photographs : black and white ; 24.2 20.3 cm or smaller.
Language:
English and English
Availability:
Available

Background

Content Summary:

This collection contains language, terms and descriptions that could cause offence and may not be considered appropriate.

This collection comprises Margo Neale's photographic collection of Christmas Island; most of the photographs were taken between approximately 1950 and 1970. The collection covers the social history of Christmas Island including photographs of the dwellings for Europeans, Chinese and Malay workers. Some of the photographs come from the archives of the British Phosphate Commissioners (BPC) and document the history of phosphate mining on Christmas Island. Also included in this collection are photographs of the 1973 Australian ministerial visit from Bill Morrison, the then Minister for Science and Minster for External Territories. The collection was formed by Margo Neale whilst she conducted her oral history of Christmas Island.

Biographical / Historical:

Margo Neale - Margo Neale was born in the Lakes District of Gippsland, Victoria, and spent over two decades teaching English, Art and Social Sciences in schools. Neale lived on Christmas Island from 1982 - 1985; initially moving there on a teaching contract. Whilst living on Christmas Island, Neale and her friend Jan Adams recorded oral history interviews of residents of Christmas Island. Following her return to Australia, Neale went on to become a curator of First Nations art at major Australian cultural institutions including for the National Museum of Australia, the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Queensland Art Gallery. Neale is of Aboriginal and Irish descent, from Kulin nation with Gumbayngirr clan connections.

The British Phosphate Commissioners - BPC was a board of Australian, British, and New Zealand representatives who managed extraction of phosphate from Christmas Island; in addition to Nauru and Banaba (Ocean island). The presence of phosphate on Christmas Island was confirmed by John Murray (later Sir John), a Scottish scientist in 1887; this discovery led the establishment of the Christmas Island Phosphate Company (CIPCo); BPC was established in 1919 as a competitor.

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025174).
Conditions Governing Use:
Conditions for copying and publishing of this collection may apply, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10025174).
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact:
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