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Streets, Beats and

Buggery

Jason Jochinke

Alexander Park in
Melbourne was a popular
beat for homosexual men
in the 1920s

An exploration of the meeting, dating and consequences of

a 1920s Homosexual
Soothing a Guilty Conscious

Born in 1992, I have somewhat

missed the generation that grew up
in 1920s. In stating this, I feel no
envy or want to have grown up in
that time, for I am able to look back
and explore the struggles and
hardships minorities endured. I
reminisce on this for I have realised
my ignorance while exploring
homosexual rights, homosexual
history and homosexual
acceptance. While it doesnt
change what facts have been
uncovered, or they way in which
this piece is presented, I sense it
important for the reader to know
my sexuality. It explains why I

have dared to look to the history

apparent that little studies had been

of homosexual Australia and

conducted on the plight of

those who endured it. To be

homosexuals of the past in

clear, I am homosexual, and

Melbourne. Sydney, Brisbane and

growing up in the 21st allows me

Darwin have had a plethora of

a level of freedom that these

research conducted, however

men in the 1920s could only

Melbourne seemed to be have been

have imagined, which makes me

ignored. To add to this, little

feel guilty. Some may compare

primary resources existed as only

it to the White Guilt that white

prominent high court cases

Australians sometimes feel in

documents were retained in public

regards to the history of

records.

Indigenous Australians1. I look

to it as researching my families

From Grindr to Gardens:

history so I can understand

Looking Back

where they have been and how far

we have come to appreciate the
freedoms I have today that those in

These ease at which homosexuals,

the past had to fight for. When

as well as heterosexuals, have at

looking at their history, it was

present to connect and meant with

Lorem Ipsum

like-minded people either for

conversation or intimacy, is not fully
realised. The Internet and smart
devices allow access through apps
such as Grindr, Tinder, Hornet, Scruff,
Squirt and DaddyHunt allows users
instant access and satisfaction to their
every want and need. One does not
have to leave ones house to find a
partner that is willing to take part in

The corner of Lonsdale and Swanston Street where Melbournes oldest

and activity. The disparity of 2015 to

known public toilet used by homosexuals once sat.

the streets of Melbourne in the 1920s

were quite a different story. The apps

Creatures, Perverts and Queans

of the 1920s Melbourne came in the

structures of public toilets, city
gardens and coffee houses. The
Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives
in Melbourne offer the community
great insight into the written and oral
histories of those who experienced
first hand the trials and tribulations of
living in Melbourne during this time.
The Melbourne Gay & Lesbian
History series Melbourne Queen
City of the South describes the
history and locations of homosexual
encounters within the city region.
Areas described as Beats were
known areas to homosexuals and
straight males who were looking for
convenient and quick sexual
encounters without judgment1. The
most commonly known beats included
public toilets such as the one located
at the corner of Lonsdale and
Swanston street, Alexander Gardens,
Carlton Gardens, Stiffies the public

toilet at Melbourne General

Cemetery and local cafes. Beats
were often given names such as
Flowerpot, Lobster Pot and The
Spanish Mission. While there has
been little study on beats in
Australia, Laud Humphreys
(1970)1 detailed the rituals and
protocols in American beats.
While each beat has different
signals to display consent or
enthusiasm, they all follow the
principle that most are there for
sexual dalliances that are quick
and nonintrusive. It also
discusses the importance of a
beat being known to its
community and located for
convenience. The beats noted
above are/were located in
locations close to built up areas
near or around clubs or coffee

housed, that housed either public

toilets, gardens, dim lighting and
often used at night..
Reporting The Truth

Homosexual news or cases

were not highly reported on
during the 1920s. It was
thought that if it was not out
in the open, then it wasnt an
issue, so government and
police officials did not
attempt to draw society into
the argument until the 1950s.
If cases were reported in the
media, the headlines or article
would elude immorality,
perversion and at times report
it as not fit for publication.
Wayne Murdoch reported on
the Melbourne edition of The
Truth through the 1920s and
found that men were often
referred to as queers1,
queans1 and indecent1.
Headlines and articles were

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used to instill fear in the

community and paint these men
as sexual deviants and at times
referred to them a creatures
rather than men.1 The Truth
was the most prolific source of
these subtle scathing remarks
against the homosexual culture
within Melbourne, and would

it was clear with the intent

and disgust at the
happenings of same sex
love. Little is found in most
newspapers today as the
research and investigation
into this topic has not been
of priority to those in the
field and lack of funding
for digitalisation of
documents.

often focus on this topic at

certain times throughout its
publication. While the articles
were not always descriptive and
coy in their approach, it was

The trial briefs of Harry Bruin and Benjamin Morris describing their
offences.

Brief Archives

You say love can never die, no,

love can never die, but, is ours
love, never mind love will
bloom in both our hearts, for I
know in re-reading your letters
that there is a ring of
genuineness in them.1 The
following text comes from a
love series of love letters written
by Harry Bruin addressed to
Benjamin Morris. Bruin and
Morris met along St Kilda Road,
a well-known cruising point for
homosexuals, and struck up a
conversation. The two walked
together to Morris address that
night in South Melbourne and
their relationship continue from
there through letter writing and
later phone calls. Countless,
remarkable and touching letters
between the pair can be found
and coddled over, for they are
used against the pair in a court
case, where both were accused
of gross indecency after
attempted blackmail. Cases such
as Morris and Bruin, while not
readily available or recognised,
do exist within the archives,
prison records and trial briefs of
the time. The trouble is finding
them. The case of John Henry
Mace and John Alexander Hale
in 1929 again sees the charge of
gross indecency attached and
their story lays bare in a buried
trial brief1.

in 1929 again sees the charge of gross indecency attached and their story lays bare in a buried trial brief 1. Both men
are believed to have work with or near each other, little is discussed about their meeting, but continued to see each
other at Maces parents house where Hale later moved in. It is stated within the briefs that the men had been under
police surveillance and arrested in a private residence. There is no suggestion of public fornication or indecency,
both consenting men made love, consummated, fucked or boned each other in private. The brief reveals that offers
believed these men to be of a low level of intelligence. The report offers no medical examination or evidence from
a certified doctor to back up the officers claim, and that statement can be seen viewed as a reflection on the
perceptions of homosexuals living in the 1920s. Of the trials that exist in the public records domain from 1919 to
1934 there are 200 cases involving homosexual males. Of those 200 cases, 40 involved two, or more men that were
of consent and of age, that were charged with committing offences in private.1 These figures highlight two
occurrences that were happening. The first being that with such a low number of the cases being consenting males
private, one could argue that the law enforcement were not actively pursuing homosexual cases. And secondly that
consenting of age males that practiced sex in private properties could be subject to charges. Most charged were
reported to police by landladies, parents, neighbours, friends or jealous ex lovers. It is undeniable that a number of
cases were of men forcing themselves onto young unwilling males, however this piece aims to look at the practice
and punishment of consenting homosexuals. Many cases found in trial briefs were from Police Officers walking
through or around, known beats and with catching these men during an act of briefly after.
Looking Back to Look Forward
The history of homosexuals in Australia like most countries has a dark history that is still today only being
uncovered to the public. Through historians researching archives, trial briefs, newspapers and first hand accounts we
are able to gather some understanding as to societies perception on homosexuals, how homosexuals meet and the
punishment towards active homosexuals. While this research looks primarily looks at inner city Melbourne
homosexuals, it can be used to look at homosexual activates throughout Australia. Looking back at the history of
how homosexuals were treated and oppressed, allows the youths of today to appreciate and recognise the hardships
we have faced.

Jason Jochinke

Nyla Branscombe, and Bertjan Doosje. Collective guilt: International perspectives. Cambridge University

Press, 2004.
ii

Wayne Murdoch, Daniel Marshall, Graham Willett, Adam Carr, eds. Secret Histories of Queer

Melbourne. Parkville: Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives, 2011. 172 pp.
iii

Humphreys, L. (1970). Tearoom trade. Society, 7(3), 10-25.

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"Queer Queans - Strange Shocking Story - Two Men Committed for Trial", Truth, 31 January 1920 p. 5

"Queer 'Queans' - Fall in When they Fall Out - Couple Convicted on Serious Charge" Truth, 21 February 1920 p. 5

vi A Shocking Case - Boy Mauled About by Mob - Revolting Doings at Richmond - Four Youths Found Guilty of
Gross Indecency - Sentenced to Six Months Imprisonment" Truth, 15 June 1920 p. 5
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"Curious Creatures - Painted and Powdered Effeminates - Is There an "Intermediate Sex"? - Something Needed to

Protect the Young from Perversion" Truth, 9 April 1921 p. 7

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Trial of Harry Bruin and Ben Morris, Public Record Office of Victoria, VPRS 30 Criminal Trial Briefs 1920/100

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Trial of John Henry Mace and John Alexander Hale, Public Record Office of Victoria, VPRS 30 Criminal Trial
Briefs 1929/335
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Wayne Murdoch, Phone me up sometime: Melbournes homosexual subcultures in the interwar year, La Trobe
Journal, 2012
xi All photos taken by Jason Jochinke