Hughes, John

 

John Hughes (1949-)

John Hughes is well known in Sydney's Mardi Gras party scene of the 1970s and 80s. Together with his partner Kell Boston, they hosted Titanic Parties and the White Parties at their home in Paddington, which have been well-documented by photographer William Yang. In this interview, John discusses his early activism, protesting the Vietnam War, becoming involved in CAMP, and caring for friends during the HIV/AIDS crisis. John also describes his long relationship with Mardi Gras, including participating in the First Mardi Gras, the parties, and membership of the Mardi Gras Board.

Photo: John Witte

 

Oral history recordings

Interview summary
 

Automated transcripts of our oral history interviews are available to researchers on request. For access, please contact us, stating the name of the interviewee, date of interview, and your purpose of use.

HPride History GroupSeaforth, Avalon, Balgowlah, Douglas Darby, Manly Vale Public School, Balgowlah Boys High, Leaving Certificate, Phil Scott, University of Sydney, Commonwealth Scholarship, Teachers’ College Scholarship, Diploma of Education, Alison Darby, Vietnam War, Frensham Boarding School, Mittagong, Dennis Altman, Homosexual: Oppression and Liberation, Zara Bate, Jeff Bate, Tilba, Bowral, Alison Lyssa, Australia House, Australia Street, Camperdown, Kate Jennings, Mother, I am Rooted, Pinball, Derwent Street, Glebe, CAMP Inc, Hartfield, Henry Schoenheimer, Good Schools of Australia, Chris Noonan, The Opera Company, Opera House, Green Room, syphilis, STD Clinic, Albert Street, Greg Milan, The Clinic, Christ Church St Lawrence, David Reader, John Pollard, Moratorium, Anti-Uranium Movement, Lex Watson, Sydney Teacher’s College, Kell Boston, Cook Road, Paddington House party, Furber Road, Paddington, Tim Hughes, Jamie Gardiner, House parties, You can’t ask that, Signal, Thurber Road, Surrey Street, Darlinghurst, Jacuzzi, Titanic Parties, White Parties, door bitches, AIDS/HIV, condoms, Underwear parties, William Yang, Demonstrations, Hyde Park, Club 80, Teachers’ College English Department, Mardi Gras, Taylor Square, College Street, Kings Cross, William Street, Oxford Street, Barrel Inn, Rex, Darlinghurst Police Station, National Homosexual Conference, Paddington Town Hall, Mother Abyss, Terry (Dolly) Divola, Tintookie Puppets, San Francisco, Boys Own Bake Off, amyl nitrate, Arts Industry, Bruce Sinclair, Mr Mather, Sydney University, Diamond Heights, Qantas, Steward, Bill Bowtell, Bruce Maher, Greg Waters, Neal Blewett, Tanya Plibersek, Grahame Richardson, Friends of Dorothy, Recovery, Obelisk Beach, S & M, Mardi Gras Board, Hunter Valley, Gary Leeson, Jane Marsden, Sleaze Ball, Lang Park, Occupational Health and Safety, Mark Glasier, Richard Cobden, Warwick Hart, Sydney Star Observer, Rob Patmore, Bev Lange, Mardi Gras Fair day, Jubilee Park, Mardi Gras parade, Dawn O’Donnell, Rainbow Recovery Club, Story Factory, marriage equality