Corroboree

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Event Corroboree
Venue Point Lonsdale Foreshore Reserve, Queenscliff, VIC
First Date 1857
Dates Estimated Yes
Status Unknown
World Premiere No
Description When Queenscliff because a summer resort the blacks used to entertain the visitors, in day by throwing their spears, and boomerangs, and in the evenings by what they called a corroberry [sic.] which was held in the reserve at the south end of Learmonth St. The corroborree consisted of native songs, and dances. They would dress themselves up with boughs from the wattle trees placed round their legs, and arms, when dancing these anklets &c. would give out a rustling noise that was pleasing to them. They would paint all the bare parts of body, with whiting, and yellow ochre, chests, arms, and faces, and make a large fire, the men would stand round it, and sing, and dance, whilst the lubras would sit round with their ‘possum skins doubled up in a fashion that when struck with the hand it resembled a kind of drum, and they kept excellent time to the other performers. Some of the gentlemen visitors would give the king of the tribe a past cast off dress suit of clothes namely a swallow tail coat and belltopper hat, and after the performers had sung, and danced the king would go round collecting, with the hat, this being the only evening entertainment we had in those days, they were very liberally supported.
Description Source Article
Primary Genre Other
Secondary Genre Indigenous
Corroboree
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Produced
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Created
Resources
Text Nationality Australia
Production Nationality Australia
Further Information c1857 - Exact date not listed
Event Status Completed
Data Source
Source Description
Mapping Corroboree
Library Collection Queenscliff Historical Museum Collection
Event Identifier 133571
Dataset AusStage