Printing blocks (10), 'A handbook of anarchy' by J A Andrews,
wood, made by John Arthur Andrews, Melbourne, Victoria,
Australia, 1894 This hand-carved and unique woodcut is one three
held by the Powerhouse Museum which represent the activities of
the Australian Anarchists in the 1890s and as such they reflect
an, important but little known, part of of the country's
cultural heritage. This set of carved woodblocks were used
around 1894 to produce text in publications by John Arthur
Andrews. Andrews (1865-1903) was born in Bendigo, Victoria iand
sometime around 1886 joined the Melbourne Anarchist Club and
became active in the Australian Socialist League. During this
time he published works in 'Radical', 'Liberty' and his own
pamphlets including 'A handbook of anarchy'. The 1890s was a
period of great social unrest with the country caught firmly in
the grip of both a drought and a depression which forced many
out of work. In July 1892 the Broken Hill Strike began and
police and armed troops were used move non-st