Only corroborees that were recorded can be represented, such that these are often those witnessed by and/or performed for colonists and other audiences. Their distribution therefor reflects colonial presence rather than the distribution of corroborees.
When Queenscliff because a summer resort the blacks used to entertain the visitors, in day by throwing their spears, and boomerangs, and in the evenings by what they called a corroberry [sic.] which was held in the reserve at the south end of Learmonth St. The corroborree consisted of native songs, and dances. They would dress themselves up with boughs from the wattle trees placed round their legs, and arms, when dancing these anklets &c. would give out a rustling noise that was pleasing to them. They would paint all the bare parts of body, with whiting, and yellow ochre, chests, arms, and faces, and make a large fire, the men would stand round it, and sing, and dance, whilst the lubras would sit round with their ‘possum skins doubled up in a fashion that when struck with the hand it resembled a kind of drum, and they kept excellent time to the other performers. Some of the gentlemen visitors would give the king of the tribe a past cast off dress suit of clothes namely a swallow tail coat and belltopper hat, and after the performers had sung, and danced the king would go round collecting, with the hat, this being the only evening entertainment we had in those days, they were very liberally supported.
Sources
ID
tb209
Source
From Shortlands Bluff 1853 to Queenscliff 1912, 1900-01-01, "W Simpkin, From Shortlands Bluff 1853 to Queenscliff 1912, 1900"
Extended Data
note
event_number
ausstage:Events:133571
dates_estimated
yes
description_source
Article
genres
Corroboree|Indigenous|Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Produced|Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Created
