Malcolm Cole

About Malcolm Cole

Malcolm was a trailblazer for the Indigenous community, racking up an impressive series of ‘firsts’ in both the arts and queer activism spaces. He was described by many as a larger-than-life character who ‘shone brighter than 100 bulbs’. Malcolm was a founding student of the Black Theatre in Redfern, a teacher and counsellor at the Aboriginal Dance Theatre and one of the first co-presenters of the ABC TV Indigenous current affairs show Blackout.

Humble beginnings

Malcolm and his twin brother, Robert, were born in the small community of Ayr in Far North Queensland in 1949. They came from a large family of 6 brothers and 3 sisters and were heavily involved in the local church. Speaking of his childhood, Malcom made it clear that life in a small town was not easy for a young, queer Indigenous boy.

At 19, keen to escape the bigotry and stifling conservatism, Malcolm and his brother made the decision to move to Sydney with just $400 in their pockets.

"If you didn't know Malcolm when you first seen him, you will know him after that day."

As was the case for so many other gay men and women, coming to Sydney was a liberating experience for Malcolm. He credited the city with giving him the freedom to become the man he was meant to be. It was also in Sydney that Malcom discovered his love for dance.

Shortly after arriving in Sydney, he joined the professional Indigenous dance course established by Carol Johnson at the Black Theatre in Redfern, forming part of the first student cohort.

The course later became the Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Scheme (AISDS) and toured as the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre (AIDT). The teaching arm became NAISDA Dance College in 1988 and members of the performance arm founded Bangarra Dance Theatre.

Later in life, Malcolm would say he wouldn’t really call himself a dancer (he initially was more passionate about singing) but that it was through dance that he found his voice and his community.

Malcolm found himself as a queer, Indigenous artist during a particularly turbulent period for civil rights in Australia. For Malcolm, being both gay and Aboriginal meant battling prejudice from within his own community as well as fighting for acceptance from the largely middle-class gay culture. Many Indigenous gay men reported being refused entry to gay clubs ostensibly for being drunk while their white friends were allowed access. Malcolm felt that making a public statement of his sexuality was important to change these attitudes and provide a role model to those who would come next.

"It is enough trouble being Black, let alone gay. That is why I am determined to put this float in the Mardi Gras."

Thus came the 1988 Mardi Gras float conceived by Cole and artist friend Panos Couros. Malcolm took on the character of Captain Cook and re-enacted the arrival of the First Fleet in a boat of Black sailors, pulled by a white man. This was the first Aboriginal float entry in the parade. The timing was particularly significant as it coincided with the bicentennial year.

Tragically, that same year Malcom revealed to friends and family that he had been diagnosed with HIV.

Prior to his death, Malcolm spoke about the rejection he faced from his community, despite his years as a pillar of Sydney’s queer community.

Malcolm eventually returned to Ayr, where he was cared for by his twin, Robert, until his passing in 1995. Even in death, Malcolm continued to make history as he became the first Indigenous man to be commemorated with a death notice in the Gay Press.

Malcolm’s life and death brought to light the specific struggles faced by queer Indigenous people. He remains a source of inspiration for contemporary activists in the ongoing fight for Indigenous rights.

References

• Blak History Month (2021) 24 July 2021 – Malcolm Cole, Australia's Blak History Month website, accessed 26 June 2025.
• Kale N (16 March 2024) Dylan Mooney on dancer and activist Malcolm Cole, Saturday Paper website, accessed 26 June 2025.
• Mockler R (1 March 2024) Twin brother pays tribute to Malcolm Cole's 1988 Captain Cook at Sydney Mardi Gras parade, ABC News website, accessed 26 June 2025.