Repatriation City museum returns 33 significant artefacts to Australia

A LONGSTANDING Bristol Museum collection has been returned to Australia “in a significant act of international cooperation and cultural recognition”.

- Annette BELCHER

The Bristol Museum and Art Gallery formally returned 33 culturally significant objects to the Larrakia People of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

The objects - spears, spear throwers and a club - were collected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and have been held in the museum's collection for decades.

Their return is part of the Australian Government’s Return of Cultural Heritage (RoCH) program, led by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS).

A ceremony, held at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery on Monday, included speeches from Larrakia representatives, Bristol City Council and Australian Government representatives.

The event was attended by community leaders and international guests. Among them were Larrakia representatives - Nigel Browne and Mikayla Lee, Australia's high commissioner to the United Kingdom Stephen Smith, Bristol's lord mayor Henry Michallat and council leader Tony Dyer.