Unzie was an Aboriginal Australian man who lived in the early 20th century, and his appearance set him apart from nearly everyone around him. He had albinism, a condition present from birth in which the body produces little to no melanin — the pigment responsible for color in skin, hair, and eyes. The result was a striking combination of pale skin and a thick head of white hair that made him immediately recognizable.
His look drew significant attention from photographers across Australia. Both amateur hobbyists and professional portrait photographers sought him out as a subject. Sitting for photographs became a genuine source of income for Unzie, who also appeared in various shows and public exhibitions during this period.
Unzie lived through one of the most difficult periods in Aboriginal history. European settlement had already reshaped Australian society, and by the early 1900s, traditional Aboriginal ways of life were being rapidly dismantled. Aboriginal people faced widespread discrimination, land dispossession, and social exclusion. Opportunities for financial independence were extremely limited.
Within that harsh environment, Unzie carved out a visible public presence. His ability to earn a living through his appearance — at a time when most Aboriginal Australians had very few options — made him a notable figure. He was not merely a curiosity; he was a working man navigating a society that largely excluded people like him.
Details about his personal life remain scarce. Records from this era rarely documented the inner lives of Aboriginal individuals, particularly those on the margins of colonial society. What survives are the photographs — a visual record that speaks to both his unique appearance and the era in which he lived.
Those photographs offer more than a portrait of one man. They capture a moment in Australian history when Aboriginal identity, colonial pressures, and the commercial appetite for novelty all collided. Unzie stood at that crossroads, and the images left behind remain a direct, unfiltered window into that world.
Unzie – Martin Harlow was not an aboriginal – he was born in Australia to Irish parents – he is my Great Grandfather