Broome race riots of 1920
Encyclopedia
A series of riots involving some members of the Japanese
and Indonesian
(mainly from Kupang
in Timor
) communities took place in Broome
, a town in northern Western Australia
in December 1920.
At the time of the riots, Broome—a town of around 5,000 people—had an ethnically diverse population with "whites" (European Australian
s), a minority of 900. The industry of the town was mostly based on pearl fishing, and the majority of the town worked in this occupation
.
The Japanese had established themselves as a tight knited community, and were successful in the pearling business.
The background to the racial violence was based around the layoff period, in December 1920. This was a period in the pearling season when diving stopped and crews were laid off until the next season, generally resulting with the crews being let at loose ends in the town.
There had previously been race based violence between the Japanese and the Koepanger
population in 1907 and 1914. The Japanese had attained a high position in the social ladder in Broome, and often used this against the Koepanger population who were generally not as fortunate.
The exact origins of the start of the conflict was unclear, but the a number of small fights broke out between the two groups. The Koepangers were smaller in stature and number, only 400 of them while there were 2000 Japanese. While the European population were celebrating Christmas, tension spread, and more violence occurred, eventually resulting in a death. The police tried to quell the disturbances, eventually having to fire warning shots against crowds of up to 400 Japanese, some of who were armed with guns.
Police officers generally tried to rescue the Koepangers, many of whom fled the town, or sought sanctuary in white establishments or the police station. Other ethnic groups kept out of the fracas, though there was risk of their involvement. Armed Japanese and Koepanger groups attacked each other for days, with whites trying to keep them at bay. Eventually enough people were deputised and the town was locked down, with the groups separated from each other, and the Japanese Consul
appealing to the Japanese community to stop the violence.
At the end of the riots, five Koepangers, two Japanese and one police officer had been killed, and 60 people were injured.
Japanese Australian
Japanese Australians are people of Japanese ancestry who are resident in Australia, either through birth or immigration.-Demography:In the 2006 Census 30,778 Japanese-born residents were counted in Australia. This number excludes Australian-born persons of Japanese ancestry, and Japanese in...
and Indonesian
Indonesian Australian
Indonesian Australians are Australian citizens and residents of Indonesian origin or descent. The 2006 Australian Census found 50,975 Australian residents who stated their place of birth as Indonesia, and 35,941 who stated their ancestry as Indonesian...
(mainly from Kupang
Kupang
Not to be confused with Tanjung Kupang in JohoreKupang is the provincial capital of East Nusa Tenggara province in southeast Indonesia....
in Timor
Timor
Timor is an island at the southern end of Maritime Southeast Asia, north of the Timor Sea. It is divided between the independent state of East Timor, and West Timor, belonging to the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara. The island's surface is 30,777 square kilometres...
) communities took place in Broome
Broome, Western Australia
Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. The year round population is approximately 14,436, growing to more than 45,000 per month during the tourist season...
, a town in northern Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
in December 1920.
At the time of the riots, Broome—a town of around 5,000 people—had an ethnically diverse population with "whites" (European Australian
European Australian
A European Australian is a citizen or resident of Australia who has origins in any of the original peoples of Europe...
s), a minority of 900. The industry of the town was mostly based on pearl fishing, and the majority of the town worked in this occupation
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
.
The Japanese had established themselves as a tight knited community, and were successful in the pearling business.
The background to the racial violence was based around the layoff period, in December 1920. This was a period in the pearling season when diving stopped and crews were laid off until the next season, generally resulting with the crews being let at loose ends in the town.
There had previously been race based violence between the Japanese and the Koepanger
Kupang
Not to be confused with Tanjung Kupang in JohoreKupang is the provincial capital of East Nusa Tenggara province in southeast Indonesia....
population in 1907 and 1914. The Japanese had attained a high position in the social ladder in Broome, and often used this against the Koepanger population who were generally not as fortunate.
The exact origins of the start of the conflict was unclear, but the a number of small fights broke out between the two groups. The Koepangers were smaller in stature and number, only 400 of them while there were 2000 Japanese. While the European population were celebrating Christmas, tension spread, and more violence occurred, eventually resulting in a death. The police tried to quell the disturbances, eventually having to fire warning shots against crowds of up to 400 Japanese, some of who were armed with guns.
Police officers generally tried to rescue the Koepangers, many of whom fled the town, or sought sanctuary in white establishments or the police station. Other ethnic groups kept out of the fracas, though there was risk of their involvement. Armed Japanese and Koepanger groups attacked each other for days, with whites trying to keep them at bay. Eventually enough people were deputised and the town was locked down, with the groups separated from each other, and the Japanese Consul
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
appealing to the Japanese community to stop the violence.
At the end of the riots, five Koepangers, two Japanese and one police officer had been killed, and 60 people were injured.