The Coolbaroo Club was a pioneering Aboriginal-run dance club in a city with unofficial apartheid policies, facing constant police harassment and bureaucratic obstacles. The club attracted prominent Black musicians and celebrities, including Nat "King" Cole and the Harlem Globetrotters. While best known for its popular dances, the Coolbaroo League, founded by club members, ran a newspaper and advocated for Aboriginal rights, speaking out against issues affecting the community.
The Coolbaroo Club
In a city plagued by unofficial segregation, the Coolbaroo Club stood as a beacon of resistance, a safe haven where Aboriginal people could gather and connect without fear of persecution, amidst a backdrop of constant police harassment, discriminatory laws, and bureaucratic obstacles.
