These blokes are on their way to a smoke social at the Palmerston Town Hall on Smith Street in 1915. Held since the 1880s, smoke socials were fairly self explanatory - they featured blokes, drinking, speeches, music and plenty of smoking. But they took on a different purpose with the outbreak of World War I, becoming farewell events for the groups of volunteers heading interstate to enlist. A century on, smoke socials have returned to the old Palmerston Town Hall with Sandra Thibodeaux's new play A Smoke Social on until 30 June, although it will likely feature far less smoking.

Image: Northern Territory Library

Published: 24 June 2018