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 Sept. 9, 2021, 8:05 p.m. , as edited by Michael Bogle (moderator approved).
Go to current record
Name
Bill Onus
Also known as:
  • William Onus
  • William Townsend Onus
  • W. T. Onus
Gender
Male
Roles
  • Artist
  • Artist (Performance Artist)
  • Artist (Mixed Media Artist)
  • Artist (Industrial / Product Designer)
Other Occupation
  • TV show narrator (ANZSIC code: 5511)
  • Rigger (ANZSIC code: 5220)
  • Shearer (ANZSIC code: 0522)
  • Prospector (ANZSIC code: 1012)
  • Delivery truck driver (ANZSIC code: 4610)
  • Secretary of the APA (ANZSIC code: 9559)
  • Shipping clerk (ANZSIC code: 7291)
Birth date
15 November 1906
Birth place
Cummeragunja Aboriginal Reserve, NSW
Death date
10 January 1968
Death place
Deepdene, VIC
Active Period
  • 1940 - 1968
Residence
  • c.1934- Salt Pan Creek, south-western Sydney, NSW
  • Bega, NSW
  • c.1929- Sydney, NSW
  • 1918 Riverina
  • 1906 Cummeragunja Aboriginal Reserve, NSW
  • 33 Terry Street, Deepdene, VIC
  • 1946 Melbourne, VIC
Indigenous Australian
 
Languages
  • English

Difference between this version and previous

Field This Version Previous Version
Date modified Sept. 9, 2021, 8:05 p.m. Aug. 10, 2021, 3:47 p.m.
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: Summary of practice in Summary of practice given in Nanette Carter & Robyn Oswald-Jacobs. Frances Burke, Designer of Modern Textiles. Melbourne Univ. Press, 2021, 221 pages, illustrated, p.68>, <ExternalResource: Ian Howie-Willis, Onus, William Townsend (Bill) (1906–1968), Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, 2000>] [<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: Summary of practice in Summary of practice given in Nanette Carter & Robyn Oswald-Jacobs. Frances Burke, Designer of Modern Textiles. Melbourne Univ. Press, 2021, 221 pages, illustrated, p.68>]