In 1922, I started a Monday Musings sub-series in which I shared news about Australian literature from a century ago. I wrote several posts for the sub-series in the first couple of years, but fewer in the last couple of years. This is not because I lost interest, but because the issues started to repeat themselves, issues like lack of recognition for Australian literature, not enough Australian literature taught in schools, the Bookstall Company’s publishing venture, to name a few. I found the same in the first few articles I found for 2026, and then popped up an article titled “The Native Language and Literature”, and of course I was intrigued. Whether I find more articles for 1926, who knows, but this one is well worth sharing, not only because it is intrinsically interesting to read the thinking of a century ago but also because it ties in with my coming review.

“The Native Language and Literature”

Before I say more, I need to say that, as you would expect, the language and tone used to talk about First Nations people in the article is not what we’d use today, but the article contains thinking that seemed worth sharing.

The article has no by-line, which is frustrating, but not uncommon. Titled, “The native language and literature“, it was published in Melbourne’s The Age on 6 February 1926. It was also published a few weeks later, on 19 March, in Tasmania’s North-Eastern Advertiser, which my research reveals was independent and had no administrative links with Melbourne’s The Age, suggesting they thought the ideas interesting enough to pick up for publication.

The article starts with the opinion that was rife at the time, which was that “the aboriginal inhabitants of Australia are fast disappearing”, then follows with its main point that

with them will perish for ever all trace of their language, customs and traditions, unless a strong effort is made in Australia to learn this tongue before it is too late.

It criticises Australians’ lack of patriotism because

nothing has been accomplished by the various Education departments of the Commonwealth to instil into the minds of Australian children a knowledge of the language of the harmless blacks who roamed the Great South Land before it became a British possession. 

Yes, patronising, but the point is made about a lack of interest in the language and culture of Australia’s First Peoples. The patronising tone continues when it argues that “despite” their “primitiveness … they must have had some traditions; some stories of love and friendship, peace and war, famine and plenty, flood and tempest”. Indeed, the writer is aware that many students of Aboriginal people believe that,

in their weird corroboree these stories — their ‘short and simple annals’ — are handed down from sire to son.

Of course the language is insulting, but it is interesting that the awareness of an oral tradition that carried stories and culture forward – which is known to “students”, including, presumably, anthropologists – was being shared with the general public. The article continues that “an early surveyor” had discovered “a lonely picture gallery” which contained “numerous drawings” done with “much ability”. Some were “freshly executed, others weather worn”. They represented “human figures, animals, birds, weapon and scenes of savage life”. Again, “savage life” is a colonial judgement that we would not accept now, but the point is made about the value of these drawings.

The article continues that the people had a religion, and identified “a gigantic serpent” as being part of it, albeit the understanding of this serpent’s role was simplistic and reductive, but again the bigger point is made. The article also shares that “the aboriginal was … brave in battle” and that “many an early settler or shipwrecked mariner have in the darkest hour of their need learned to bless the honest, if somewhat rude, hospitality of the Australian black”. Again, a back-handed compliment!

Then, we move onto language. It suggests that

Many of the soft, sweet-sounding native words could be perpetuated at the present time in a most worthy and patriotic manner in the naming of the streets of the federal capital. It would give a truly national touch to Canberra, and when the wonderful city of Australia felix is built the beautiful Australian dawn, with silver sandalled feet, would kiss with double joy such names as Illawarra, Parramatta, Coolingatta, Coodgiegong, Toongabbee, Warragumby, Wooloomooloo, Mittagong, Meroo, Wingycarribbee, Euranarina, Nandowra, Tumbarumba, Woogaroo, Wollondilly, Bulkomatta, Jackwa, Yurumbon, Daby, Bunnabibbee, &c. 

Some of these names have made their way into the region around Canberra, and some even further away, but let’s move on because this is an example not the point. The point is that

Now is the time to found a society and awaken interest in this matter. In a few short years the language will be extinct. Then frantic efforts and much money will be wasted in an attempt to write the literature of the real Australian natives.

The writer asks, “Why has not the Australian Natives’ Association attended to this question?” Despite the connotation of this name to this to us today, Wikipedia explains that the Association was founded in 1871 “by and for the benefit of White native-born Australians, and membership was restricted to that group”. Our writer doesn’t specifically note the irony but does conclude with:

to-day the Australian white natives [my emph] will gather at the festive board to celebrate Foundation day. Orator after orator will rise and ‘boost’ this fair and pleasant land of ours before a distinguished and appreciative audience. Is there any record during the years that have passed since foundation day was first celebrated of these patriots raising their voices to preserve, the language, customs and tradition of the primordial native? No! Has the black man’s load been made any lighter as he has been elbowed out of his domains? Soon they will disappear, and with them all trace of their existence.

Putting aside the Foundation Day issue – that is, the history of when we “celebrated” the “founding” of Australia – and the tone and language, the article makes a strong point about preserving the language and culture of Australia’s First Peoples. And, it recognises that we have pushed (“elbowed”) them out of their homes (“domains”). Unfortunately, it also accepts the fact that “they will disappear” and does not suggest that anything can be done about that. So, it’s more of a “museum” mentality than a “humane” one. I would love to know who wrote it.

Thoughts?