Research Thesis Notice Board

Jack Crawford, “Militants: The 1894 Shearers’ Strike in Western New South Wales” (Honours thesis, Department of History, University of Adelaide, 2018).

This thesis argues that the 1894 shearers’ strike in western NSW was unique among the “great strikes” of the 1890s, in that its outcome was not a crushing defeat for the unionists, but a stalemate of sorts. For structural reasons, the pastoral properties in the west of the colony were generally more sensitive to industrial unrest, and the owners were more hesitant to carry out the fight to its definite conclusion. The scale of organised and violent militancy on the part of unionist shearers made the strike very expensive for the pastoralists, as capital was destroyed and strike-breakers were intimidated. This is exemplified by a legendary incident, the burning of the Rodney, as it attempted to transport strike-breakers along the Darling River. The incident and subsequent court case, where the accused shearers were found innocent, constituted a colossal political humiliation for the establishment. This thesis is available upon request from the author (jackpcrawford96@gmail.com).

Mike Harding, “‘Plenty of Opal Back Then: Opal Pulkah’: A History of Aboriginal Engagement in the Northern South Australian Opal Industry c. 1940–1980” (PhD dissertation, School of Humanities, University of Adelaide, 2016), https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/handle/2440/111998.

This thesis examines the role and contribution of Aboriginal people to the northern South Australian opal industry c. 1940–80, and challenges the notion that they were irrelevant or marginal to the industry. Aboriginal people willingly engaged in the industry; many undertook skilled roles and earned good incomes. Some owned precious-stone claims and others entered into partnerships with Europeans. The emergence of a “hybrid economy” on the opal field enabled Aboriginal people to participate in the market economy while also engaging in their traditional economy, maintaining a significant degree of cultural continuity.