The intertwined histories of Mediterranean and Pacific migrant labour in Queensland’s sugar industry during the early 20th century are set to be highlighted in an upcoming seminar, detailing the vital role migration (and forced migration) played.
The lecture, organised by the Greek Community of Melbourne, is titled “Envisioning a Mediterranean Pacific: Photography and Sugar Cane Migrants” and will be delivered on Thursday, 15 August 2024, 7pm, at the Greek Centre.
It is part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne, and will be delivered Dr Andonis Piperoglou, the Hellenic Senior Lecturer in Global Diasporas at the University of Melbourne.
The lecture will delve into the significant role migrant labour played in Queensland’s sugar industry, discussing both the Mediterranean migrants as well as the pre-existing system forced migration from the South Pacific that was also vital.
Dr Piperoglou will examine the subject through visual culture (photographs, cartoons, and sculpture) to explore the connections between these two migrant groups.
His work challenges the conventional narratives of assimilation and highlights how Mediterranean and Pacific diasporas have been represented and perceived within the context of Australian settler colonialism.
The lecture aims to offer a fresh perspective on the history of migration and labor in Queensland, encouraging attendees to reconsider established narratives and explore comparative histories of diaspora.
