National Museum of Australia

Peter, King of Tchanning

1985.59.386 Edmund O Milne Collection
134 x 113 x 6

Sawn from copper plate, this gorget is the only one in the Museum's collection that was not made from brass. It is also the only gorget known to have been made outside Australia. The maker's mark on the reverse of the plate reads 'Hughes and Kimber Manufacturers, London. E.C.'. Although it is decorated with the usual emu and kangaroo, they are stylistically quite different to the local product, and the kangaroo is the only one to be depicted with a joey in its pouch.

The dedication 'presented by J. Ferrett Esq for 7 years faithful services' suggests that Peter was involved with Ferrett's pastoral enterprises. 'Esq' labels Ferrett as a landowner and 'Tchanning' may well have been a property name. Unfortunately, although Edmund Milne attempted to obtain some information about the names on this gorget, he was unsuccessful. The reply to his letter of inquiry to HE Badgery, of the Sydney stock and station agents Pitt, Son and Badgery, only suggested Milne try to locate Harry Ferrett:

I ... have not been able to find out anything of the place, Tchanning or Peter or J Ferrett. I find there is a Harry Ferrett - Booval in Queensland but cant find any post town of that name, there is a Harry Ferrett certain and you might chance a line to him - and m[ay] find a post town named Booyal [sic]. I think near Maryborough Q - of Course I will still try and may get onto some Scent through old hands but it Sounds more South or West Australia to me. [1]

Footnote

1 Badgery, S and Esrom, H, letter to Mr Milne from Esrom, H and Badgery, S, dated 14 August 1941, manuscript, National Museum of Australia, EO Milne Collection, file no 85/310 folio 155.

Billy Hippie, King of Minnon

1985.59.363 Edmund O Milne Collection
200 x 147 x 3, chain 600, 356

This is the finest gorget in the Museum's collection. It is the work of a skillful engraver who left his name on the lower front of the plate, 'Twemlow, engraver, Sydney'. The inscription and design are a very fine and artistic piece of work after the style of engraving on guns. The plate appears to have been sawn and finished by a craftsperson very conscious of proportions and finish. As a final luxury the brass gorget and chain were silver plated after the manner of military gorgets.

The design is similar to several other known gorgets in that it comprises a tableau acted out across the gorget. The theme, an Aboriginal stockrider chasing cattle, is unique in the Museum's collection. However, similar designs are found on a few gorgets held elsewhere. The scene is very dynamic - the man cracks a stockwhip over his head and jumps his fine horse over a log in pursuit of galloping cattle on the other side of the gorget. The dress of the man is notable in that he wears, in true nineteenth-century colonial Australian style, a cabbage tree hat, loose collarless shirt and long trousers. He rides barefoot which was typical of Aboriginal stockriders.

Related link

> Kings and the expansion of the pastoral frontier - more information on Billy Hippie

Ada Derika, Queen of Durham

1985.336.1 Mrs HS McCullagh
142.5 X 72 X 4; chain 700

This simple gorget made from sawn light brass plate is notable because it is one of only two in the Museum's collection which were made for women and the only one made for an Aboriginal 'queen'. The style of engraved block lettering used for the inscription, blackened with a filling of pitch, is quite modern. The whole is in excellent condition with even the machine-made brass chain intact. The gorget's modern appearance suggests it was made in the twentieth century.

No information about Ada Derika has been discovered. However, Durham is probably Durham Downs near Thargomindah in Queensland. The connection is reinforced by the fact that the plate was presented to the Australian Institute of Anatomy by HS McCullagh of Durham Downs.

Dick, King of Evesham, Darr River

AIA no A-ON 118
260 x 210 x 13

This sawn brass gorget appears to be the work of at least two artisans. The crude, poorly spaced chased inscription is out of keeping with and partly obliterates the finely engraved design of an Aboriginal man and an emu. The plate is heavy and its ungainly shape also contrasts with the skillful decorations. The figure of the Aboriginal man is most interesting because he is wearing a gorget. Therefore the engraver may have attempted to picture the 'king'. Also notable on this gorget are the random marks made with a blunt instrument in the centre of its anterior surface which may indicate the plate was once used as an anvil, or they may be an attempt by the owner to personalise the gorget. Evesham is a property in central Queensland near the Darr River. Nothing has yet been discovered about Dick.

King Tommy of Waverney

1985.247.1 Mr Errol Beutel
149 x 87.5 x 8

The crude production of this gorget suggests it was the work of an amateur craftsperson. It was unevenly sawn from a brass plate, the lettering of the inscription is cramped and unevenly placed and the emu and kangaroo are simple, naive figures. The style of lettering and design suggest it was made in the late nineteenth century. Nothing has yet been uncovered about Tommy. However, Waverney is in south-west Queensland.

Bob 'Wheelpoolee', King of Boulia, 1930

Gorget given to Bob Wheelpoole, King of Boulia, in 1930

not accessioned

Queensland