Yellow Socks Affair

The Yellow Socks Affair was a series of arrests of gay men that occured in the early 1950s in Newcastle. 

By mid-1952 ten men appeared in Newcastle Court on charges of "abominable offences" and the names of 12 gay men were published in The Newcastle Herald. Among these men was Keith Robinson, a well-known businessman in Newcastle. It is alleged that it was the colour of the display in his menswear store on Hunter Street that gave the men their name - the Yellow Socks Gang. 

Below you can find a number of photographs relating to the Yellow Socks Affair. For more information you can also view the oral histories of Danny Dodd and Kevin Coleman; and reporting of the event in The Newcastle Herald. 

Keith Robinson in front of Holden van at Catherine Hill BayCreator: Coleman, Kevin Date: Early 1950s

Keith Robinson 1970sCreator: Coleman_Kevin Date: 1970s

Keith Robinson and Kevin Coleman portraitCreator: McRae Studios Date: Early 1950s

Mock up for an advertisement for Paramount ShirtsCreator: Unknown Date: Late 1940s - early 1950s

Keith Robinson fashion parade: male modelCreator: Newcastle Sun Date: Early 1950s

Keith Robinson fashion parade: Preparation for paradeCreator: Newcastle Sun Date: Early 1950s

Keith Robinson at Catherine Hill BayCreator: Coleman, Kevin Date: Early 1950s

Keith Robinson attending a Newcastle businessmen's presentationCreator: Unknown Date: Early 1950s

Kevin Coleman and friend with labrador retriever dogCreator: Unknown Date: 1970s

Keith Robinson and Kevin ColemanCreator: Unknown Date: Early 1950s