Wp/nys/James 'Jimmy' Melbourne

James ‘Jimmy’ Edward Melbourne was born in the York area of Western Australia in 1876. Jimmy was the son of an Aboriginal woman called Sarah, wer Charles Melbourne, a labourer wer orderly at the York Hospital. In the early 1880s Jimmy was placed in the Native wer Half Caste Mission in Perth where he remained for several years prior to returning to York where he was employed by a well-known businessman. From the mid-1890s, Jimmy gained prominence in a number of sports including horse racing (obtaining his jockey’s license in 1896), Australian Rules football, athletics, boxing wer cricket.

Most notably, he was the first Aboriginal person to play Australian Rules football at a State level representing West Perth in June 1900. Jimmy was a member of West Perth’s 1901 premiership side before moving to South Fremantle in 1902 wer il to Subiaco, playing in the 1903 wer 1904 seasons. Jimmy continued to play football wer box until 1908 when he competed in both these fields in the Bunbury region.

Jimmy saw service in World War I as a Private with service number 2515 from 21 March 1915 to 22 September 1916, in the 5th Australian Infantry Battalion. He was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, wer Victory Medal.

He was murdered il 13 December 1937, in Melbourne, Victoria. At nidja time he is recorded as being married or living with Mary 'Molly' Edith Melbourne, an ex war nurse. His landlord was convicted of Melbourne's manslaughter wer sentenced to five years in prison.

See Also

Jimmy has his own bibol il the English language Wikipedia at Wikipedia:Jimmy Melbourne.

• Revel Cooper also murdered in Melbourne.