Bristol returns 33 Larrakia cultural artefacts

On Monday 1 September, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery formally handed back 33 cultural objects to the Larrakia people of Australia’s Northern Territory. Held in their collection for over a century, the artefacts include spears, spear-throwers and a club collected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with early donations recorded in 1881 and 1934. The belongings will travel to Garramilla (Darwin) and will be ready for display at the Larrakia Cultural Centre, due to open in 2026.

Larrakia delegate Mikayala Lee spoke of the deep importance and cultural significance this moment had for her Nation. Visibly moved and honoured by the experience to represent her community, she generously shared what it meant for her personally - having lived in Bristol, once calling the city home."To witness and to be part of the return of 33 Larrakia cultural objects is somethingI will carry for the rest of my life."

Nigel Browne opened in Larrakia, a language that is currently classified as threatened and continued by describing the impacts of colonisation

“When the tall ships started to arrive in 1869, not only the language, but also our lives, our culture, our art and those things important to Larrakia were taken from Country - whether by agreement or by force. There are Larrakia cultural objects in so many different parts of the world.”

Mr Browne praised Bristol Museum as “a regional, national and global leader” in repatriation, and said the items will return to“The place we call Garramilla, where we will care for them, we will learn from them, we will make sure that the stories and the knowledge behind them is never lost."

Based in Bristol, Coe Gallery was proud to witness the return of Larrakia cultural heritage. We welcome the city’s role in addressing the ongoing impacts of colonisation on Indigenous communities. Returning artefacts taken without consent contributes towards the repairing of unresolved painful histories. We hope more institutions follow this example and make space for Indigenous-led partnerships, voices and practice.

Congratulations to all involved for delivering a successful and memorable return.