Summary

This photograph was taken in Melbourne by Johnstone, O'Shannessy & Co and is referred to as the Deputation photograph. The group of Aboriginal elders and Senior men from Coranderrk depicted arrived in Melbourne, having walked 70 kms to farewell Sir Graham Berry, the Chief Secretary, on his departure to England. Mrs Ann Bon accompanied the deputation and had stated it was "23 years since a deputation had left Coranderrk to attend a levee at Government house, in the time of Sir Charles Darling, and for the purpose of sending a congratulatory address to the Queen on the occasion of the marriage of her son, the Prince of Wales". As the new Chief Secretary of Victoria, Alfred Deakin, was also present for the events of the day, this was also an opportunity for the residents of Coranderrk, and their supprter Mrs Bon, to once again protest their management by the Board for the Protection of Aborigines and to seek to be relieved of this management. In the article Mrs Bon also states: "The aboriginal owners of the soil had never before turned out to do honour to any man leaving these shores. Incidentally she reminded Mr Deakin that, notwithstanding all that Mr Berry had done, there was yet plenty for him to do. The natives wished to be relieved of the board, and if the gentlemen composing it had not that sense ot honour which should induce them to resign, they ought at least to be relieved of their management of Coranderrk. A lot of money had been misspent in building a large house for the manager, which was locally known as the coffee palace". See the full story reported in a newspaper article [The Argus, Thursday March 25 1886] in the article attached.

Johnstone, O'Shannessy & Co was a leading and successful photographic studio located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Establised by Emily O'Shannessy and Henry James Johnstone in Bourke Street, George Hasler joined the business in 1868/1869. However Johnstone left Melbourne in 1876 and George ran the company until he died in 1897. This would mean that the photographer of the Deputation image would either be Emily O'Shannessy or George Hasler [her husband]. The studio flourished and was such a commerical success, Johnstone and O'Shannessy commissioned an architectural firm, Reed Henderson & Smart to design their new premises at Collins Street. This portrait would have beed taken at that studio. [For further details of Johnstone and O'Shanessy's studio see https://www.daao.org.au/bio/group/biography/johnstone-oshannessy-co-melbourne-vic/ and and article by Mary Lewis in 2005https://www.daao.org.au/bio/group/biography/johnstone-oshannessy-co-melbourne-vic/ accessed November 2024]

Physical Description

Sepia toned print. Studio group portrait. Mounted on board. Photographer's imprint in gold runs vertically along left edge of mount. Handwritten annotation in black ink on label adhered to reverse of mount. A second handwritten annotation in black ink is partially visible beneath label on reverse of mount. Tape adhered to left edge of reverse of mount.

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