This photograph was taken in 1895 on Western Australia’s Rottnest Island (Wadjemup).
Pat Baird on 5-string banjo was a lighthouse keeper on the island, the other three men were members of the pilot boat crew – Tommy Iglow on accordion, Teddy Jones on the bones and an unnamed tin whistler. The banjo and accordion look like quality instruments and the players look like they know what to do with them.
The band probably played at dances and possibly other social events for the island’s population, which included a large number of First Nations prisoners, boys in a reformatory, administrators, tradesmen and a few farmers, many with resident families.
This band could be considered part of the ‘foo foo’ band tradition of improvised ensembles aboard ships, an island being a very similar environment. They are well-dressed in their work uniforms, so someone thought them worthwhile documenting, possibly for a postcard? Whatever the reason the photograph was taken, the band would have been capable of pumping out a fair bit of sound and rhythm and were probably in great demand. Or, maybe they only played to the quokkas!
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