Item Detail
Summary
The burnt out shell of the two-bedroom house which belonged to Aboriginal woman Pearl Gordon who had lived on the same block of land since to late fifties. Pearl shared the house with her husband and her daughter who was living in one of the rooms with her white partner. One night after a drinking session Pearl's daughter and her partner had a huge fight which ended with the daughter's partner going to bed whilst she kept on drinking. In the early hours of the morning Pearl's daughter crept into the bedroom and made a fire under the bed that her partner had fallen asleep in. Before she knew it the whole house was on fire and she fled with her parents who were in shock. Her partner managed to break a side window and climb outside just escaping the inferno. Pearl's daughter is now serving three years in the Broome lockup for arson and attempted murder. A tragedy for the whole family. In a terrible irony the ruined house is being used by teenagers as a place to drink alcohol in secret.
Warnings and disclaimer
Title and captions supplied by photographer. "Dedicated to my mother Zoe Clark whose help and inspiration has encouraged me to follow my dreams and achieve meaning in my life"
Subjects
- Family violence -- Western Australia -- Photographs.
- Aboriginal Australians -- Alcohol use -- Western Australia -- Photographs.
- Dwellings -- Fires and fire prevention -- Western Australia -- Photographs.
- View more on SLWA catalogue
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