Museum event: Indigenous Australians
- Audience Type:
- General, Tourists
- Event Type:
- Current exhibition
- Location:
- Level G, Indigenous Australians Exhibition
Indigenous Australians is a fascinating look at the history, culture and political struggles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - the oldest living culture in the world.
Showcasing pieces from the Australian Museum's 40,000 piece collection, and featuring contemporary audio-visual storytelling and personal narratives, this exhibition captures the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture from the Dreaming to the present day.
This popular exhibition places a strong emphasis on the strength of Indigenous cultures and their connection to the land. The experience is divided into six themes: spirituality, cultural heritage, archaeology, family, land and social justice. It demonstrates how Australia's Indigenous cultures have survived for so long by adapting over time - despite the impact of more than two hundred years of European colonisation.
Things to do
- Pull up a stump in a reconstructed cave and listen to the Dreaming stories about 'Hairy Man' and 'the Bunyip', narrated by Indigenous Australians.
- Take a seat in a pew at the bush chapel and learn about the links between Aboriginal spirituality and Christianity.
- Listen and read first-hand accounts of what it means to be an Indigenous Australian.
- Enter the Stolen Generations maze, created by Indigenous Australian Kevin Butler, who was removed from his family at two weeks of age by the Aboriginal Protection Board and adopted by a non-Aboriginal family.
- Admire the impressive contemporary Indigenous art collection.
- Snuggle into a cushion with the kids and read an Indigenous story book.
- See a wide selection of Indigenous Australian cultural artefacts up close including boomerangs, didgeridoos, baskets and ceremonial pieces. There are also sophisticated tools such as a kangaroo tooth drill used for making holes in shells for necklaces and holes in spear throwers.
- Grasp an understanding of the struggles faced by Aboriginal people today and in the past and the steps that have been taken to move forward.
- Browse through the Museum Shop on your way out and pick up an Indigenous Australian memento before you leave. You'll also find gifts about the natural world including books, toys and games, and the Museum's official souvenir guidebook. Great for local and international tourists, or as a treat for the family or yourself.
Touch Table Alert!
Look out for the special touch table in this exhibition, regularly run by Museum staff and volunteers. It features special pieces from our collection that both little and big kids are encouraged to touch, feel and examine at close range. Chat with trained staff and catch up on the Museum's latest research work. See the 'What's on' sign next to the information screen on the ground floor for daily times and locations.
More information about Indigenous Australians
Aboriginal People of Coastal Sydney
When the British arrived in January 1788, there were more than 1500 Aboriginal people living in the area from Botany Bay to Broken Bay and as far west as Parramatta. Discover the rich and complex customs of peoples in the past, and the importance of Sydney Harbour to contemporary Indigenous Australians today.
Stories of the Dreaming
Storytelling is an integral part of life for Indigenous Australians. It is used as the first part of a child's education to help pass on important knowledge which is then carried on into adulthood. Listen, watch or read these 20 stories from the cultures of Indigenous Australians, collected from all over Australia.
NAIDOC celebrations
To celebrate NAIDOC Week each July the Museum often hosts a range of activities and performances. NAIDOC Week stands for National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee.
Buy General Entry tickets online
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4 comments
Chris Hosking
2.08 PM, 26 August 2010
Hi Kp,
The date of 120,000 years of occupation comes from results from thermo -luminescence dating conducted on a site called Jinmium rock shelter near the NT/WA border. The dates from the study suggested that the oldest stone artefacts could be over 117,000 years old while some rock art might be over 50,000 years of age. The study was published in the December 1996 issue of the journal Antiquity by Richard Fullagar (Australian Museum), David Price and Lesley Head (University of Wollongong).
This date is not accepted by everyone and the science of radiometric and optical dating is filled with conjecture; scientists that don't agree with the dates will dismiss the dates as resulting from contamination. Later dating by Bert Roberts (La Trobe University) suggests that the same site could be no older than 10,000 years. The truth may be that the actual date is somewhere in between. Regardless of how early or late the dates are, one thing is certain - there will be another researcher ready to dispute anything that full’s outside of their hypothesis.
Such is the nature of science.
For more information about early archaeological sites please see the Cultural Heritage page.
For more information about the science and debate about early human occupation dates in Australia please see this website by the abc.
kp
12.03 AM, 20 March 2010
i went to the australian museum recently and saw the indigenous australians exhibit. i am just wondering if someone can clarify something for me... i think one of the plaques in this exhibit said that aboriginal australians have been in australia for 120,000 years. this is the only time i've heard this figure... before this i'd heard 40,000 years and 60,000 years, but not 120,000. my questions are: - did i read this correctly, does a plaque in this exhibit say that aboriginal australians have been in australia for 120,000 years? and, - if so, what evidence is there for this?
Fatafehi
12.08 PM, 29 August 2009
With all my love for the Indigenous Australians,and God bless their Children ,who carry on their dreamtime stories how to walk,sing,dance,and take their walk-a-bout.Your friend Charles
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