Bristol Museum & Art Gallery has formally returned 33 culturally significant objects to the Larrakia People of Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory.
The objects, comprising 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 programme, which is led by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (Aiatsis).
A handover ceremony was held at the museum this week to mark what has been described as a “significant act of international cooperation and cultural recognition”.
The event was attended by community leaders and international guests, including Larrakia representatives Nigel Browne and Mikayla Lee, Australia’s UK high commissioner Stephen Smith, Bristol lord mayor Henry Michallat, and the leader of the Bristol City Council, Tony Dyer.
The objects will be temporarily housed at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory until the opening of the Larrakia Cultural Centre in 2026. Planned as a landmark cultural facility, the centre is currently being built adjacent to the sacred site of Stokes Hill in Darwin Harbour.
It is intended to serve as a hub for cultural tourism, language revitalisation and education, offering people a chance to engage with Larrakia knowledge and traditions through the lens of Traditional Owners. This week’s repatriation follows the return of cultural objects to Larrakia from the Fowler Museum, Los Angeles, in May.
“Today is an extremely important milestone for the revitalisation and maintenance of Larrakia culture, now and for future generations, as we accept these culturally significant artefacts from the Bristol Museum back to the rightful custodianship of Larrakia people,” said Mark Motlop, chairperson of the Larrakia Development Corporation and Larrakia man.
“It has been a long and emotional journey for Larrakia people in the repatriation of these items to Larrakia Country – one that will facilitate healing and the intergenerational transfer of knowledge.
“Once returned to their rightful place on Larrakia Country, in Darwin, Australia, these items will be displayed at the Larrakia Cultural Centre, opening in 2026 ensuring their stories are honoured and shared with the world for many years to come.”
In a speech during the ceremony, Bristol City Council leader Dyer said: “We are proud to support the respectful return of these items of cultural heritage to the Larrakia People. We are grateful to have been able to work closely with everyone involved in this formal repatriation, this international collaboration has allowed us to take a powerful and significant step forward towards shared understanding and partnership.”
Leonard Hill, the CEO of Aiatsis, said the return was an example of how collaboration between communities and institutions could restore cultural authority and support intergenerational knowledge. He said: “These items belong with their people, on their Country, where they can once again contribute to cultural life and intergenerational knowledge.”
Museums Association director Sharon Heal, who attended the ceremony, commended the museum for its “ethical and proactive approach” to restitution.
“It was an honour to be at the handover ceremony and deeply moving to see the profound impact of the return of the objects to representatives of the Larrakia community,” she said.
“Bristol Museum has taken an ethical and proactive approach to restitution over many years and has built lasting international relationship as a result, as well as deepening the understanding of its collections. This restitution shows once again that the work is possible if there’s a will to do it and it’s great to see regional museums leading the way.”
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