Bill Onus b. 15 November 1906

Also known as William Onus, William Townsend Onus, W. T. Onus
  • Artist ,
  • Artist (Performance Artist),
  • Artist (Mixed Media Artist),
  • Artist (Industrial / Product Designer)
William Townsend (Bill) Onus 1906-68. As an artist, entrepeneur, actor and activist Bill Onus made an significant contribution to Art and Aboriginality in postwar Melbourne. His work is held in the collections of in the collections of the National Museum of Australia, Australian Museum, Powerhouse Museum and South Australian Museum.
You are viewing the version of bio from Nov. 27, 2012, 10:58 a.m. (moderator approved).
Revert to this revision Go to current record
  • Viewing page:
  • 1
  • 2
associate of
William Cooper
Artist (Photographer)
parent of
Lin Onus
1948
Artist (Installation Artist), Artist (Printmaker), Artist (Sculptor), Artist (Painter)
b. 1948 - Son of Bill and Mary
sibling of
Eric Onus
Other occupation
relative of
Owens Warren Onus
Other occupation
spouse of
nee McLintock Kelly Mary Onus
Other occupation
associate of
Jack John Patten
Other occupation
associate of
Pearl Gibbs
Other occupation
associate of
Jack Campbell
Other occupation
associate of
Wesley Simms
Other occupation
associate of
Jack Patten Snr
Other occupation
associate of
Jack Patten
Other occupation
associate of
Bill Ferguson
Other occupation
associate of
Reg Saunders
Other occupation
associate of
Stan Davey
Other occupation
associate of
Irene Mitchell
Other occupation
associate of
Doug Nicholls
Other occupation
associate of
Harold Blair
Other occupation
associate of
nee Kerry Paula O'Dare
Other occupation
associate of
Jean Campbell
Other occupation
associate of
Dres Hardingham
Other occupation
associate of
Margaret Tucker
Other occupation
associate of
Dulcie Pitt
Other occupation
parent of
Christine Onus
Other occupation
grandparent of
nee Onus Christine Donnelly
Other occupation
relative of
Aiyisha
Other occupation
  • Viewing page:
  • 1
  • 2

Difference between this version and previous

Field This Version Previous Version
References [<ExternalResource: Fraser, Virginia. (2008), 'Moomba: What's in a name?', digital video.>, <ExternalResource: Fraser, Virginia (2008), 'Making a show of it: Indigenous entertainers and entrepreneurs in 1950s Melbourne', City of Melbourne, Art and Heritage Branch, Exhibition Catalogue.>, <ExternalResource: 'Corroboree Season 1949'.>, <ExternalResource: (1951), 'An Aboriginal Moomba: 'Out of the Dark'', The Princess Theatre, Melbourne.>, <ExternalResource: 'Seeking Aboriginal Stars in Qld, AAL Press Book, Moomba 1951', Unmarked cutting, Onus family archives.>, <ExternalResource: 'Irene Mitchell papers', State Library of Victoria LaTrobe Collection., MS 10368.>, <ExternalResource: 'Interviews in person and by telephone: Gary Foley, Judy Him, Merle Jackomos, Paula Kerry (now O'Dare), Iris Lovett-Gardner, Naomi Meyers, Irene Mitchell, Christine Onus (now Donnelly), Lin Onus, Joanne Onus, Tiriki Onus, Herb Patten, Des Smith and Alma Toomath.'.>, <ExternalResource: Powerhouse Museum, 'Boomerang by Bill Onus', Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, NSW.>, <ExternalResource: Powerhouse Museum, 'Boomerang decorated by Lin Onus', Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, NSW.>, <ExternalResource: Casey, Maryrose (2004), 'Creating Frames: Contemporary Indigenous Theatre 1967-1990', University of Queensland Press, St Lucia, QLD.>, <ExternalResource: Howie-Willis, Ian. (2000), 'Onus, William Townsend (Bill) 1906-1968', Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 15, Melbourne University Press, pp. 538-539.>, <ExternalResource: Howie-Willis, Ian. (1994), 'William, (Bill Onus) 1906-1968)', The Encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Australia vol. 2, pp. 824-5.>, <ExternalResource: Kleinert , S. (1994), 'Jacky Jacky was a Smart Young Fella': Art and Aboriginality in south eastern Australia', PhD Thesis, ANU.>, <ExternalResource: Kleinert, S. (1999), 'An Aboriginal Moomba: Remaking History', Continuum, vol 13, no 3 November 1999, pp. 345-358.>, <ExternalResource: Kleinert, S. in (ed.), G. Levitus (1997), ''Aboriginal landscapes', Lying about the Landscape', Craftsman House, pp. 82-99.>, <ExternalResource: Kleinert, S. in (eds.), S. Kleinert and M. Neale (2000), 'Onus, Bill (William) Townsend (1906-1968), The Oxford Companion to Aboriginal Art and Culture', Oxford University Press, p 666.>, <ExternalResource: Kleinert, S. (2006), 'Aboriginality in the City: Re-reading Koorie Photography', Aboriginal History, vol. 30, pp. 69-94.>, <ExternalResource: Neale, M. (2000), 'Urban Dingo: the art and life of Lin Onus 1948-1996', Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, QLD.>, <ExternalResource: Kleinert, S. in (eds.) S. Kleinert and M. Neale (2000), ''Art and Aboriginality in the south east', The Oxford Companion to Aboriginal Art and Culture', Oxford University Press, pp. 240-247.>, <ExternalResource: Director, F.L. Few (1962), 'Alcheringa', Australian Broadcasting Commission, Sydney, NSW.>, <ExternalResource: Tucker, M. (1977), 'If Everyone Cared: Autobiography of Margaret Tucker MBE', Ure Smith, Sydney, NSW.>, <ExternalResource: Attwood, Bain. (2003), 'Rights for Aborigines', Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest, Sydney, NSW.>, <ExternalResource: (2 July 1964), 'TV's Important Role in Helping Aboriginal Cause', The Age.>, <ExternalResource: Few, Frank & Betty (1963), 'The Boomerang Maker, Alcheringa Series', Rigby, Adelaide, SA.>, <ExternalResource: Horner, J. (1974), 'Vote Ferguson for Freedom', Australia and New Zealand Book Co. Sydney, NSW.>, <ExternalResource: Goodall, Heather. (1996), 'Invasion to Embassy: Land in Aboriginal Politics in New South Wales, 1770-1972', Allen & Unwin, Sydney, NSW.>, <ExternalResource: (4 April 1952), 'USA shuts out Aboriginal Now!', Argus.>, <ExternalResource: Davis-Hurst, Patricia (1996), 'Sunrise Station', Taree, NSW.>, <ExternalResource: Simon, Ella (1978), 'Through My Eyes', Collins Dove, Blackburn Vic.>] [<ExternalResource: Fraser, Virginia. (2008), 'Moomba: What's in a name?', digital video.>, <ExternalResource: Fraser, Virginia (2008), 'Making a show of it: Indigenous entertainers and entrepreneurs in 1950s Melbourne', City of Melbourne, Art and Heritage Branch, Exhibition Catalogue.>, <ExternalResource: 'Corroboree Season 1949'.>, <ExternalResource: (1951), 'An Aboriginal Moomba: 'Out of the Dark'', The Princess Theatre, Melbourne.>, <ExternalResource: 'Seeking Aboriginal Stars in Qld, AAL Press Book, Moomba 1951', Unmarked cutting, Onus family archives.>, <ExternalResource: 'Irene Mitchell papers', State Library of Victoria LaTrobe Collection., MS 10368.>, <ExternalResource: 'Interviews in person and by telephone: Gary Foley, Judy Him, Merle Jackomos, Paula Kerry (now O'Dare), Iris Lovett-Gardner, Naomi Meyers, Irene Mitchell, Christine Onus (now Donnelly), Lin Onus, Joanne Onus, Tiriki Onus, Herb Patten, Des Smith and Alma Toomath.'.>, <ExternalResource: Powerhouse Museum, 'Boomerang by Bill Onus', Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, NSW.>, <ExternalResource: Powerhouse Museum, 'Boomerang decorated by Lin Onus', Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, NSW.>]