WHITE AUSTRALIA
when the colonies were federated under the Commonwealth of Australia, one of the first pieces of legislation enacted was the Immigration Restriction Act. This law severely limited the entry of non-European migrants and workers from across Asia, China, and the Moana-Pacific. Although the dreaded random European-language dictation tests from this Act stopped in 1958, it was not until 1975, when the Racial Discrimination Act made it illegal to discriminate potential migrants according to their race
white australia token
1910 - 1930s, Aluminium and bronze token, inscribed with WHITE AUSTRALIA and AUSTRALIA FOR THE AUSTRALIANS, commissioned by the Australian Natives’ Association in honour of maintaining a white Australia
2.3cm width
acquired from Noble Numismatics, Eora/Sydney
australian natives’ association medal
1950s, engraved and awarded to a ‘HARCOURT,’ a medallion in gilded gold, enamelled blue lettering and a white Australia design
5.1 cm wide
acquired from eBay
australian natives’ association pin
1960s, bronze pin with enamelled blue lettering and a white Australia design
2 cm wide
acquired from eBay
chinese wooden handplane
1908 - 09, steel and wood handplane, stamped LOOEY WOON, a Chinese cabinet maker from Victoria. By 1896, the Victorian Factories and Shops Act ruled that all furniture made by Chinese craftspeople had to be stamped ‘Chinese Labour.’ Whereas other cabinet makers in the colony could stamp ‘Made by European Labour Only’ to market and racially distinguish their work
18cm length
acquired Leski Auctions, Naarm/Melbourne