Tasmanian Aborigines were cut off by the rising waters of the Bass Strait …

A fascinating byway of history … Tasmanian Aborigines were cut off by the rising waters of Bass Strait before the boomerang was invented …

As a result this unique and most interesting of weapons is not to be found in Tasmania.

The English Comic Opera Company of 16 artists arrived in Australia on the Orsova in March 1910.

The concept of a touring group was the creation of J. C. Williamson who purchased the franchise to stage the comic operas created by Gilbert and Sullivan and produced by Richard D’Oyly Carte.

One of the principal touring singers was Nellie Kavanagh. Her boomerang was inscribed:

PRESENTED TO MISS NELLIE KAVANAGH. BY A FEW OF THE MELBOURNE “GALLERY GIRLS”
WITH LOVE AND BEST WISHES 19.5.11.

The silver mounts to this 19th century Victorian stone adzed boomerang were made by Oliver H. Forster, 204 Smith Street, Collingwood a second generation member of the family silver-smithing and jewellery business.

The journal Table Talk makes reference to the giving of presentation boomerangs by the “Gallery Girls” in its issue of Thursday 6 October 1910:

The pretty custom of the gallery girls handing down boomerangs as farewell souvenirs to departing favourites was repeated last Friday in the case of Miss Essie Perrin. They lower the flower-decked weapon by string which is cut by one of the attendants, who then hands the trophy up. These girls call themselves the ‘first and last-nighters’ and this idea of theirs is very graceful and charming and sends all their favored artists away with a typically Australian memento.

I will be exhibiting the boomerang at the Melbourne Antiques & Art Fair at The Royal Exhibition Building, Nicholson Street, Carlton, 5 – 8 May 2016