Melbourne Museum: Melbourne, Australia
Our second day in Melbourne started with a visit to the Melbourne Museum. This was a bit of a spur of the moment decision after we realized the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) was sadly closed for renovations. Luckily, Matt remembered he'd seen a post about the museum on Instagram and we were happy to find it was only a 25 minute walk from our hotel. Founded in 1854, the museum highlights the natural and cultural history of the area and is the largest museum in the southern hemisphere. It sounded pretty interesting so we headed out, grabbed a coffee on the way, and wandered inside to see what the museum had to offer.
After paying our entry fee, we checked out the museum map and decided to go straight to the First Peoples exhibit. Outside its entrance we found the "River of Language" - a wall display of First Peoples languages interspersed with drawings and other items of cultural significance. This was an incredible first introduction to the cultures we'd be learning more about inside the exhibit.
When we entered the exhibit, we were blown away by the immense space filled with different textures and colors. We weren't really sure where to start - there was so much to take in. This exhibition is dedicated to sharing the history, achievements and culture of Victorian Aboriginal groups and also to drawing attention to their continuing survival in the face of extreme adversity.
This area of the museum forms the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre and highlights the traditional owners of the Melbourne area - the Boonwurrung and the Woi Wurrung language groups of the wider Kulin Nation. The history and organization of the Aboriginal nations was something that neither Matt nor I were very familiar with and this exhibit was incredibly well laid out and patient as it guided us through the lived experience for these groups.
The exhibit begins with the extensive history of Aboriginal communities in the area. Aboriginal Australians make up the oldest civilization in the world, having become genetically isolated over 58,000 years ago. As a result, there was a lot of variety between communities and it was fascinating to see how groups who live in close proximity differed so widely in their designs and activities.
However, then the exhibit shifts to a much darker period of history - the arrival of Europeans in Australia. While the founding of the first colonies is often seen as an example of the greatness of the British Empire or of technological achievements that resulted in ship designs capable of making such an incredible journey, this exhibit does not shy away from the truth: the arrival of Europeans spelled the beginning of a period of suffering for the local inhabitants.
The exhibition also makes it clear that this result was gradual with the relationship with the newcomers experiencing both highs of cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and lows of distrust and fear.
Even as culture was being shared on both sides and adaptations being made, diseases like Smallpox were rampant. Like so many communities around the world, the First Peoples were helpless in the face of this illness. The exhibit highlighted the lengths they went to in order to warn each other by sending messengers who translated the message as it was passed along to the different nations.
The next section of the exhibit was titled "Shared History" and brought the viewpoint into the present with a desire to acknowledgement that the pain caused to individuals was not ancient history. In fact, it was shockingly recent and that experience deserves recognition.
Prior to our trip, we had watched this video from the University of Sydney that highlights the difficulties caused by the policies that separated Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander children from their families in an attempt to force assimilation. This is a policy that is unfortunately not unique to Australia and the individuals in this film highlight the ways in which they continue to experience the repercussions today.
It is incredible to think that the policy of removing children was in force from 1910 until 1970. Known as the "Stolen Generations," the exhibit highlights this experience through textiles and drawings made by individuals who lived through this separation. It was heartbreaking to read their stories and the pain was palpable as we moved through this section.
While the focus is on acknowledging the impact these policies had, the exhibit also turns to positive notes by highlighting that the mistakes of the past don't have to be the mistakes of the future. The overall message of the exhibit is one of the need for recognition.
For example, there was a section that highlighted how "explorers" who helped to found modern Australia are seen as heroic and have plaques in the locations they discovered to recognize their achievements. In turn, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities feel there should be plaques acknowledging the attacks that took place around the country - something to show respect for those who were killed. The message was clear: the traditional owners of the Australian content should be recognized and appreciated for the complex communities that they are.
As you exit the exhibition, there was an incredible map showing the traditional territories of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander nations. With over 500, it was easy to see how varied the continent has always been. Each nation, also known as a language group, has its own law, language and culture. Additionally, nations can be grouped into regions with shared cultural elements.
From the map, we were able to see that our time in Melbourne and on the Great Ocean Road would take us through Boonwurrung, Woiworung (spelled elsewhere as Woi Wurrung), Wathaurong, Gulidjan, Gadubanud, and Girawiwurung territories.
Our visit to Sydney would take us through Kuring-gai, Dharug, Elora and Tharawal regions.
Our quick trip to Uluru would mean we were in lands traditionally owned by the Pitjantjatjara and bordered by the Luitja and Yankuntjatjara peoples.
Finally, our visit to Hamilton Island and the Great Barrier Reef would take us to Giya land, which is bordered by the Yuru, Biri and Yuwi.
Leaving the exhibit, we were pensive and quiet. There was so much to think about and we felt immense respect for the traditional owners of Australia. In the center of the museum is the Milarri Garden Trail - an open air garden made up of plants that are significant to the Boonwurrang and the Woi Wurrang. It was a perfect spot to reflect and appreciate the messages of the exhibit.
If you are in Melbourne, we cannot recommend this museum enough - it was truly one of the most moving and thought provoking experiences we have ever had.
Details:
Address: 11 Nicholson Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3053
Hours: 10am to 5pm every day (except Christmas Day and Good Friday)
Entry Fee: Adults are $15 with concessions available
