Sugarcane was brought to Australia in 1788. Attempts to grow it at Port Macquarie failed but, by 1862, a successful plantation was established near Brisbane. Many plantations employed South Sea Islanders, also known as 'kanakas'. They worked under an exploitative system known as indentured labour, often without pay, in exchange for accommodation, food and travel costs.

Between 1864 and 1904, 61,000 Pacific Islanders were brought to work in Queensland in a form of human trafficking known as 'blackbirding'. The issue divided politics and was partly responsible for the rise of the White Australia Policy.

The glass plate negative from which this image is produced was taken by Henry King who owned, in 1900, one of the two major photographic studios in Sydney. The government of the time paid photographers to travel around New South Wales to document the bountiful harvests and the industry of Australian people.

Henry King became sole proprietor of a photographic studio in George Street in 1880. Henry King's studio closed around 1900 and Charles Kerry acquired some of his negatives.

Glass negative, full plate, 'Sugarcane', Henry King, Sydney, Australia, c. 1880-1900.

Silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format. The caption, studio number and studio mark are inscribed on the reverse of the negative.

The negative is not fully catalogued.

45/23 Tyrrell Inventory Number, 1390 King Studio Number

Made: King, Henry; Australia; 1855 - 1900


Used: King, Henry;

Used: Tyrrell, James Robert;

Used: Tyrrells Bookshop;

Used: Australian Consolidated Press;

85/1285-1138

1855 - 1900

215 mm