HISTORY Of The Australian Pearl Shell Industry Part 2/3

HISTORY- THE AUSTRALIAN PEARL SHELL INDUSTRY . P.t 2/3

After initially having the indigenous collect shell without wages, the Australian Pearl Industry’s need to meet demands meant paid workers were required to dive into deep waters without equipment.

Working conditions were extremely dangerous for the divers, and once diving suits were invented the divers, (whom were often indentured Japanese) would spend hours under the water at risk from sharks and the bends. The mortality rate for these original divers is estimated to even be as high as 50%

However The industry did boom until WW1 caused the demand for pearl-shell to drop. Post war would see the rebuilding of the industry.

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images from the Powerhouse Museum