THE 'COLOUR BAR' AND WHY THE BUFFALOES ARE CALLED THE BUFFALOES

Not many people know about the spectacular origins of the Darwin Buffaloes Football Club.

I wrote this up while researching my book about the history of St Marys.

The political landscape of football has always reflected the social attitudes of the time.

The Northern Territory Football League was established in January 1917 and featured three teams – Waratah, Wanderers and Warriors.

The ‘colour bar’ that was prevalent in the NTFL at the time prevented anyone of Indigenous, Chinese, Filipino, or mixed-race descent playing for any team besides Warriors.

The following season, Warriors changed its name to Vesteys, its major sponsor and where the majority of its players were employed.

Lead by the dominant performances of Territory sporting icon Reuben Cooper, the club became a success and won four premierships in the early-to-mid 1920s.

Cooper was considered to be ‘the father of football in Darwin’ and the first Indigenous footballer to play in the NTFL.

The success of the largely non-white Vesteys team was not taken so well by the local Australian football community.

In 1926, a meeting was held between the league and representatives from the three competing clubs.

Opposition clubs proposed for the disbandment of the Northern Territory Football League and the formation of a new league with an altered constitution providing for ‘white teams only’.

The motion was passed and the North Australian Football League was established.

The club registered for this new competition but dropped the Vesteys name, allegedly unhappy with their sponsor's lack of an attempt to dispute the disqualification decision.

The club was now named ‘Buffaloes Football Club’ due to the large percentage of players who worked on buffalo hunts.

The colour bar saga had huge implications throughout Darwin that did not settle down until it was lifted in 1929, and its effects lasted for many years.

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In researching this piece, I must acknowledge the efforts of Michael Barfoot (A History of Australian Football in Darwin and the Northern Territory) and Sophie Verass (SBS – 100 Years of the Darwin Buffaloes – the first Aboriginal NT Football Club).

Note – If anyone believes this to be factually incorrect in any way, please get in contact.

Photo - AFLNT