White Armband History: Racial Segregation in the Commonwealth and links between South Africa and Australia

The aim of this project is to consider how the  arm badge of a South African Railway ‘sorter’ from the Apartheid period in the museum’s collection can be used to provide an international perspective on the formulation and practice of the White Australia policy and the assimilation of Aborigines in Australia.

Arm badges such as these were worn by South African Railway 'sorters' whose task it was to assign separate carriages for 'whites', 'blacks' and 'coloureds.' Formalised segregation was established by railway regulations in 1918 based on an Act of Parliament, with the practice at its most extreme in the 1960s and 1970s during the post 1948 apartheid era. This armband is of enormous symbolic significance as a material representation of international institutionalised racism; a racism with connections to the history of slavery and nineteenth century race theories.

The arm badge has been identified for display in the 'Race and Politics' section of a new exhibition under development for the Immigration Museum on Personal Identity in Australia. It provides a way to give tangible evidence of the global reach of racist politics which, in terms of segregation, was also practised (even if not legislated) in Australia against Aboriginal people.

An essay analysing the history and context of the arm badge; a report of possible ways that it can be displayed in the context of the exhibition. The project may also include drafting a text label and identify images to accompany the arm badge.

The student would gain behind-the-scenes museum experience, particularly in historical research and analysis, interpreting material culture, text and label writing and image research, and exhibition development. Students should explore with course coordinators the possibility for this project to be assessed as part of course requirements.

The student should be undertaking a relevant honours or post graduate degree in history, public history or museum studies and should have solid research experience.