Pearl Fishers & Their Times
Murray Islanders have maintained contact with other Torres Strait islanders, Aboriginal Australians and Papuan New Guineans since ancient times.
Their marine technology was sophisticated; they obtained sea-going canoes from the New Guinea coast and fitted them with double outriggers.
The Meriam also dived for pearl shell and fashioned it into both ornamental and functional objects.
However, from the 1840's on, the allure of beche-de-mer, trochus, and most of all, the golden-lip mother-of-pearl, brought a host of newcomers to the Torres Strait.
These people weren't interested in gift exchanges: there was money to be made and new opportunities to exploit, in the competitive world of nineteenth century capitalist expansion.
Their marine technology was sophisticated; they obtained sea-going canoes from the New Guinea coast and fitted them with double outriggers.
The Meriam also dived for pearl shell and fashioned it into both ornamental and functional objects.
However, from the 1840's on, the allure of beche-de-mer, trochus, and most of all, the golden-lip mother-of-pearl, brought a host of newcomers to the Torres Strait.
These people weren't interested in gift exchanges: there was money to be made and new opportunities to exploit, in the competitive world of nineteenth century capitalist expansion.
Exile
Topic
1953-1957
activism, exile, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mer, Mer, Murray Island, Murray Island Council, pearling industry, Torres Strait
Douglas Pitt descendants
Image and Text
colonisation, Hayes, Bully, Kennedy, Flo, Mer, pearling industry, Pitt, Douglas, Stars of Tagai, Torres Strait Islanders
60 Days Notice
Text
May, 11, 1882
Mimi, Marou, Murray Island, Papua New Guinea, pearling industry, Pitt, Douglas, Torres Strait Islanders, trade
Murray Island Annexation
Topic
1879
annexation, colonisation, conquest, International law, Mabo Case, Mer, Murray Island, Queensland, terra nullius
Striking Back
Topic
1880-1936
Mer, Murray Island, pearling industry, strike, Torres Strait Islanders
