First Australians

Three pieces of ephemera from the 2023 Referendum

A selection of publicly donated referendum items in our collection.

Donate your 2023 Referendum campaign material

We're calling on you to help us collect campaign material from the 2023 Referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Blog

Deadly Dialogues: Photographers in conversation

A conversation of First Nations photographers with Uncle Mervyn Bishop, Prof. Wayne Quilliam, Aunty Barbara McGrady, Tiffany Garvie, Michael Jalaru Torres, and Tamati Smith.

Event

Video

A fire burning on sand with a night sky behind it

Deadly Dialogues: Karlie Noon and Celeste Carnegie

Astrophysicist and author Karlie Noon held a conversation with Celeste Carnegie discussing the astronomic heritage of Noon's Kamilaroi Peoples and her journey as an ambassador for youth and astronomy.

Event

First Australians

Video

Deadly Dialogues: Joe Williams and Alethea Beetson

Joe Williams and Dr Alethea Beetson in conversation as part of our Deadly Dialogues series.

Event

First Australians

Video

A watercolor painting showing a central elongated figure resembling a fish or marine mammal, with a grid-like pattern. Above the main figure, three smaller, simpler outlines of turtles are sketched. The background consists of soft, earthy tones and textured brushstrokes.

William Westall, Chasm Island, native cave painting, 1803, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-138890494

Connections to Country

Topic

Explore early European encounters with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art through the work of William Westall and engage students in considering the cultural significance of special places.

Digital Classroom

First Australians

A cosy living room. A small table surrounded by four chairs takes up much of the image. There are a few other seats in the image, and artwork and sculpture adorning the walls and shelves lining the walls.

Community Heritage Grants: New Applicants Q&A forum

This was an opportunity to learn more about the Community Heritage Grants program and ask specific questions about your proposal.

Event

A detailed drawing of various hunting implements and weapons. The illustration includes spears, shields, boomerangs, clubs, and other tools, arranged in a grid-like pattern on a plain background. Each item is depicted with precise lines and shading, with some labelled using letters A and B.

Port Jackson Painter, Aboriginal hunting implements and weapons, 1790, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135230406

Changing technology

Topic

Explore how food production and gathering methods have evolved over time, using artworks and photographs from our collection.

Digital Classroom

First Australians

Two men hug and another man shakes one of their hands

Juno Gemes, Countrymen, elders from Arakun and Mornington Island greeting each other before a ceremony, Mornington Island, Queensland, 1978, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-147616168

Bringing Them Home oral history project

Between 1998 and 2002, people from all over Australia told us their stories as part of the Bringing Them Home oral history project.

First Australians

Information article