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ZEST FESTIVAL 2013: FAR FROM HOME | 154 STORIES FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WRITTEN BY SUSAN BROOMHALL ARC CENTRE FOR THE HISTORY OF EMOTIONS Hendrik Cornelisz. Vroom, The return to Amsterdam after the second expedition to East India, 1599. © Rijksmuseum SK-A-2858. | 155 ZEST FESTIVAL 2013: FAR FROM HOME INTRODUCING THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT Unknown, Houses above Stal Plein, Cape Town, c.1795. © Iziko Museum / Iziko Museums of Cape Town / Africa Media Online. The lands that are now Australia and The Pilbara region of WA is host to perilous journey around Africa to reach South Africa share a longer history microbes known as stromatolites some Asia. There, they traded textiles, spices, than many know. 3.2 billion years old. Stromatolites gold and porcelain, with peoples from across Asia. The governors of Joined long ago, they have geological 2.5 billion years old are found in the the Dutch East India Company (VOC features in common, not least a Transvaal Supergroup of South Africa. for short, after the initials of its name bounty of diamonds, gold and iron ore Shark Bay’s living marine stromatolites in Dutch) realised the area’s crucial buried below the surface. Our similar, are a mere 2000-3000 years old, but importance – it had a safe harbour, more recent British colonial history their scientific importance was a key good supply of fresh water and fine has given the region in each country part of the region being declared a soil in which crops could be grown to where diamonds are found the name World Heritage Area. supply ships – and had set up a colony ‘the Kimberley’. From the sixteenth century, the Cape there by 1652. This marked the first The oldest recorded life forms on was a critical place to rest and restock permanent settlement by Europeans the planet are found in our lands. European vessels making the long and in the region. | 156 ZEST FESTIVAL 2013: FAR FROM HOME Through the activities of the VOC, the the Dutch Republic for self-governance during the nineteenth century. Strong Cape and Australia became linked were not extended to the African ties to the idea of a British Empire have in a new history. The ships that were and Asian populations its sailors caused our peoples to go to war both wrecked along our coast came from encountered. In different ways, each as foes (the Anglo-Boer or Freedom the Cape, carrying their cargos, of our countries has undertaken its Wars) and as allies (World War I and including elephant tusks, to our own long journey of self-discovery to World War II). shores. These are still on display in the define what it means to be free, slowly From springboks to wallabies, our WA Museum Shipwreck Gallery today. integrating indigenous and migrant relative geographic isolation in the On board were a mix of the world’s peoples into multicultural nations of world has also given us each unique nations – African and Asian slaves the twenty-first century. In each, there flora and fauna. The Cape boasts the have been confrontations between transported far from their homelands, smallest of six floral kingdoms in the European, indigenous and migrant traders looking for a bargain, European world, with an astounding diversity sailors hoping to make their fortune populations’ lifestyles, ideologies and in a tiny area. South-west Australia or pay off debts, women and children rights. Stories of slavery, exploitation, is likewise a recognised biodiversity looking forward to meeting a loved struggle and freedom have defined hotspot. Eco-, safari and wildflower one in the dynamic VOC colony in both of our countries. tourism are now driving economic Batavia (now Jakarta). As lands with multiple waves of forces for both our nations. What songs did they sing aboard migration from Europe, Africa, Asia and Our geographic position has also given and as they landed on our coast? elsewhere, both Australia and South rise to a shared future with the world’s Was it Calvinist hymns meant to Africa have developed rich multi-ethnic largest radio telescope, the Square inspire courage and hope in those cuisines, reflecting the origins of our Kilometre Array (SKA). In our remote who were stranded, or jolly sea different populations. South Africa’s regions, the view of the Milky Way shanties that raised their spirits on ‘rainbow cuisine’ reflects its indigenous, Galaxy is best, and radio interference the long journeys? Did slaves quietly Dutch, Indonesian, French, and Indian least. This project highlights the hum songs to remind them of their peoples. ‘Cape Dutch’ cooking uses the long-held importance of the stars for childhood or work in fear of the whip spices that the VOC brought back from humans across the world. Indigenous to the beat of the slave traders’ drum? its Asian trading, as well as the know- cultures have stories to tell about the Sailors’ lives were also regimented by how of its human cargo of slaves who heavens, bound to their cultures and the sound of the VOC trumpeter, who served the colony. heritage. The stars were also crucial to marked the routine phases of the day. the ability of Europeans to navigate In each of our countries, the British the oceans between these lands and In the seventeenth century, when the colonial past has left a deep, emotional beyond. The SKA project between our VOC forged links between the lands impact upon the peoples and nations nations ensures that our futures will be across the ocean, the idea of liberty and that have since emerged. We share a no less linked than our pasts. the entitlements of some to access it love of sports, with cricket, netball, and were being hotly debated and fought rugby among them. These were sports out in Europe. The hard-won rights of that were introduced under British rule | 157 ZEST FESTIVAL 2013: FAR FROM HOME STONES OF LOVE IN DEEP TIME: ANCIENT ROCKS, OLD EMOTIONS, NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Diamonds were discovered in the North decided were) ‘decent and intelligible The lands that are now Australia and Cape Province of South Africa in 1866, names’. In particular, he wrote scornfully South Africa share a longer history than when Erasmus Jacobs saw a bright that he did not want them ‘in any way many know and the discoveries in the pebble on the banks of the Orange connected with such a vulgarism as earth beneath us have revealed intense River at his father’s farm. This turned New Rush and as for the Dutch name, emotions in our societies. out to be a 21.25 carat diamond. Three Vooruitzigt … he could neither spell nor The oldest recorded life forms on our years later, a much larger 83.50 carat pronounce it’. The Colonial Secretary, J.B. planet are found in our two lands. The diamond, known as the ‘Star of South Currey, decided the best thing to do was Pilbara region of WA is host to microbes Africa’, was found on a nearby farm, to name it after Kimberley himself. The known as stromatolites some 3.2 billion Vooruitzigt (‘outlook’ in English), which mine became known internationally as years old. Stromatolites 2.5 billion belonged to the De Beer brothers, the Kimberley Mine. years old are found in the Transvaal Diederik Arnoldus and Johannes The company De Beers was founded Supergroup of South Africa. Shark Nicholas. This discovery sparked a in 1888, by Cecil Rhodes, now famous Bay’s living marine stromatolites are frenzy. Within just a month, over 800 for his educational philanthropy a mere 2000-3000 years old but their claims had been made and two to worldwide. He had started off renting scientific importance was a key part three thousand men were busy at work water to the miners during the early of the region being declared a World cutting into the hills. The area quickly diamond rush and soon made enough Heritage Area. Until those at Shark Bay became known as ‘New Rush’. The little profit to buy land claims and start his were discovered in the 1950s, scientists hill soon became a mine. Today it is own mining company. The ‘De Beer’ only knew about stromatolites as fossils known as the ‘Big Hole’, 463 metres name was an emotional one. The from ancient times. At Shark Bay they wide and covering a surface of some 17 brothers themselves had no connection can study them as life forms doing what hectares. Within less than ten years, the to the firm, but the brothers’ farm had stromatolites were also doing billions of town was the second largest in South been the site of the biggest diamond years ago when they dominated life in Africa. Everyone had a dream of riches found at that time. The farm was one the seas. to be found. of those that Rhodes and his business Joined long ago, South Africa and Colonial politics were soon caught up partner Barney Barnato purchased. It Australia also have geological features in the mix, with Boer (Afrikaner farmers) was a name that represented hope. in common, not least a bounty of and British political leaders arguing Unfortunately Barnato and Rhodes diamonds, gold and iron ore buried over who should control the newly quarrelled over the business: Rhodes below the surface. Our shared history wealthy region, and what name it should won out and Barnato mysteriously of British colonial control has resulted be given. The Secretary of State for disappeared over the side of a ship in both our diamond-mining regions the Colonies, John Wodehouse, Lord sailing for London. being named Kimberley. But why? How Kimberley, writing from London, insisted are emotions mixed up in this story? that the lands had to receive (what he | 158 How is it that diamonds have become of exciting gold discoveries for Europeans sought-after.

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