White Australia; or, The Empty North

[1909] Bedford, Randolph (1868-1941). White Australia; or, The Empty North. Ed. Richard Fotheringham. South Brisbane, Qld, Australia: Playlab, [2014]. Two manuscripts of the original play exist. “White Australia: the White Man's Land; or, For Australia: A Drama in Four Acts.” First performed February 27, 1909, in Protestant Hall, Exhibition St., Melbourne. MS. in the Hanger Collection of Australian Playscripts, Fryer Library, University of Queensland, call number HO115. Alt. title “White Australia or the Empty North, or The White Man's Land.” Prompt script of the play as staged in Melbourne by William Anderson's company at the King's Theatre, June 26, 1909. MS. in the Hanger Collection of Australian Playscripts, Fryer Library, University of Queensland call number H2327. UQld

Racist dystopia about the collaboration between China and Japan to invade Australia, supported by one traitorous Australian. Most of the play is about the actual invasion, which is initially successful, as seen through the eyes of various white Australians and two loyal Aboriginals. The Australians ultimately repulse the invasion by using an airship developed by an Australian engineer. The Australian author was a journalist, founder of The Clarion (1897-1909), and author. He was a member of the Queensland Legislative Council, 1917-1923, and of its Legislative Assembly, 1923-1941. The original of the first version appears to be the Mitchell Library, Sydney and of the second at the Library of Congress.