y separately published work icon The Pearl-shellers of Torres Strait : Resource Use, Development and Decline, 1860s-1960s single work   non-fiction  
Issue Details: First known date: 1994... 1994 The Pearl-shellers of Torres Strait : Resource Use, Development and Decline, 1860s-1960s
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

A detailed study of the small industry dedicated to procuring pearls to be used in the manufacturing of buttons overseas. Information has been collated through written records and oral testimonies from both in Australia and Japan. Issues with the industry included a reliance on mistreated Indigenous Australian labour, an inability to sustain resources while harvesting, and inefficient marketing strategies for pearl buttons. 

Notes

  • Abstract Source: Queensland Review, vol. 2, no. 2, 1995, pg. 84. 

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Works about this Work

[Review] The Pearl-shellers of Torres Strait : Resource Use, Development and Decline, 1860s-1960s David Trigger , 1995 single work review
— Appears in: Queensland Review , September vol. 2 no. 2 1995; (p. 84)
— Review of The Pearl-shellers of Torres Strait : Resource Use, Development and Decline, 1860s-1960s Regina Ganter , 1994 single work non-fiction 'This is a detailed and thorough study of a fascinating aspect of Australian history, based on a meticulous examination of written records and oral testimonies obtained through interviews in both Australia and Japan. The author depicts the relatively small-scale industry in the Torres Strait that was focused primarily on obtaining pearl shell for overseas markets where it was used to produce buttons. The theme that emerges most strongly throughout the book is the nature of the weaknesses that are evident in the industry's history. These include its reliance on cheap labour from an indigenous population whose aspirations were rarely accommodated, refusal to address seriously the issue of sustaining the resource over time and lack of success in developing a viable marketing strategy.' (Introduction)
[Review] The Pearl-shellers of Torres Strait : Resource Use, Development and Decline, 1860s-1960s David Trigger , 1995 single work review
— Appears in: Queensland Review , September vol. 2 no. 2 1995; (p. 84)
— Review of The Pearl-shellers of Torres Strait : Resource Use, Development and Decline, 1860s-1960s Regina Ganter , 1994 single work non-fiction 'This is a detailed and thorough study of a fascinating aspect of Australian history, based on a meticulous examination of written records and oral testimonies obtained through interviews in both Australia and Japan. The author depicts the relatively small-scale industry in the Torres Strait that was focused primarily on obtaining pearl shell for overseas markets where it was used to produce buttons. The theme that emerges most strongly throughout the book is the nature of the weaknesses that are evident in the industry's history. These include its reliance on cheap labour from an indigenous population whose aspirations were rarely accommodated, refusal to address seriously the issue of sustaining the resource over time and lack of success in developing a viable marketing strategy.' (Introduction)
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Last amended 13 Oct 2023 12:10:57
Subjects:
  • Torres Strait Islands, Queensland,
  • c
    Japan,
    c
    East Asia, South and East Asia, Asia,
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