Inter-ethnic conflict in Broome, Western Australia: The riots of 1907, 1914 and 1920 between Japanese and other Asians

Abstract

The story of the conflict that erupted into street-fighting and riots in Broome in the northwest of Western Australia between workers of Japanese and other Asian backgrounds engaged in the pearl-fishing industry during the lay-up seasons of 1907, 1914 and 1920 highlights the often overlooked reality of multiple ethnicities of Asians engaged in the pearling industry. Reflection on the causes of the riots, the underlying hegemony, and entrenched racism offer valuable lessons in inter-cultural relations in an environment imbued with the fear of difference and the rising importance of Asians in Australia's economic and political environment.

Notes

1. ‘Asian’ includes people from countries in Southeast Asia (Malaya, Singapore, Borneo, and the Dutch East Indies including Timor and other islands in the archipelago), East Asia (China and Japan), and South Asia (India and Ceylon). I use inverted commas (‘Asians’) for the first reference and drop the inverted commas (Asians) for subsequent uses of the word.

2. ‘Pearl-shelling’ is the preferred term for the industry which is often referred to as the ‘pearling’ industry. The collection of pearl shell was originally the primary focus of the industry. In this paper both terms are used. The term ‘white’ is used to refer to members of the hegemonic settler society. Refer to note 1 regarding my use of inverted commas.

3. Malays – people from Malaya, Singapore, and the Indonesian archipelago including Koepang (West Timor), Ambon, and other islands, who spoke variants of Bahasa Malayu or the Malay language. Most were adherents of Islam.

4. Haji – one who had completed the sacred Haj pilgrimage to Mecca.