Jackie (JH) Robinson: mining fields reporter - Exhibition opening and talk

Opening event:
Saturday, 22 November, 11am, followed by talk with Author and Historian Nic Haygarth at 12pm on the life and work of Jackie Robinson.

Join us for the opening of Jackie (JH) Robinson: mining fields reporter
followed by a talk with author and historian Nic Haygarth as he explores J.H. Robinson’s life and photography, uncovering the stories behind his images and their historical context.

Nic Haygarth is a Tasmanian historian who gained a PhD in history at the University of Tasmania. A prolific author, his most recent books are Mountain men: stories from the Tasmanian high country (with Simon Cubit, 2015), Wonderstruck: treasuring Tasmania’s caves and karst (2015) On the ossie: Tasmanian osmiridium and the fountain pen industry (2017), Bush lives: tales from the Tasmanian backblocks (2024) and Bush lives 2 (2025). He is passionate about wild places, high country and those who populate them.

Exhibition Dates:
22 November 2025 – 21 February 2026

For 40 years John Henry (‘Jackie’) Robinson (1883–1953) framed Waratah and the West Coast from a tripod. Robinson and two of his brothers were highly skilled photographers. From 1913 Jackie was an outstanding amateur based in Waratah. However, he appears to have given many of his plates to his brother Robert Vaudry (‘Bert’), hence their lodgement in the Robinson Photographic Collection at the Devonport Regional Gallery.

Jackie produced so many portraits in Waratah that semi-professional might be a better tag for him than amateur. He developed his plates at night when his job was done for the day. No golden wedding anniversary, vice-regal visit or patriotic demonstration escaped his shutter.

This exhibition is curated by Author and Historian, Nic Haygarth.

Image: JH Robinson, Holdfast Tunnel excavation workers including WJ Thorne, 1933, R00741.8

Also check out other Exhibitions in Devonport, Arts events in Devonport, Literary Art events in Devonport.