This has been created as a way of developing an active and vibrant ASSI Community in Ipswich, Queensland. Ipswich is a significant place for Australian South Sea Islanders as it has a history of using South Sea Islanders as Indentured Labour (Slaves).
In 1863, the Don Juan was recorded as the first schooner to blackbird the group of 67 South Sea Islanders as indentured (slave) labour to Qld. It is believed that after coming up the Brisbane River ending its voyage at Redbank (which is Goodna Boat Ramp today). They were made to walk in file along the Aboriginal/Bullock Wagon Track (which is the Mt Lindsay Highway today) to Gimboomba which is Jimboomba where they slept overnight before going onto Townsvale Plantation (Veresdale today). The South Sea Islander people worked in enormously hard back breaking labour and contributed immensely to the formation and development of Queensland. Their ancestors - The Australian South Sea Islanders continue to do so today.
- Category:
- Community organization