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collections

Recent acquisitions

The National Museum of Australia constantly works to build its National Historical Collection. Learn more about a selection of recent donations and purchases here.

The Sparkes cup

Sparkes cup

The Sparkes cup is a nineteenth century engraved solid silver goblet. It was awarded to Australian bare knuckle fighter William Sparkes.

> More on the Sparkes cup

The Ritchie Family collection

1934 Melbourne Cup from the Ritchie Family collection

The Ritchie Family collection consists of the 1934 Melbourne Cup trophy won by the horse Peter Pan.

> More on the Ritchie Family collection

Jackie Huggins collection

Multi-coloured scarf belonging to Jackie Huggins

Several items of personal clothing belonging to Aboriginal historian and activist, Dr Jackie Huggins, worn in campaigns for reconciliation.

> More on the Jackie Huggins collection

Joe McGinness collection

Tuckerbox and wharfies' hook

A tuckerbox and wharfies hook belonging to Aboriginal political activist Joe McGinness are some of the growing number of Indigenous civil rights material from the Museum's collection.

> More on the Joe McGinness collection

Aboriginal artefacts collection

Lil lil club

The recent acquisition of several late 19th century Aboriginal artefacts from north-western New South Wales will extend our understanding of iconography and cross-cultural frontier contact.

> More on the Aboriginal artefacts collection

Yawkyawk sculptures

Yawkyawk figures

These woven grass figures from Western Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory are a recent take on a traditional Aboriginal story about mermaid-like spiritual beings.

> More on the yawkyawk sculptures

Les Darcy locket

Les Darcy locket

A small gold locket which belonged to Winnie O'Sullivan, the sweetheart of Australian boxing champion Les Darcy, tells a poignant story of a love lost.

> More on the Les Darcy locket

Captain Cook's navigational instruments

Magnifer case

A magnifier and plane table frame used by explorer Captain James Cook would have been used in the making of accurate maps, essential for safe navigation.

> More on the Cook collection

Swan Richards cricket collection

Cricket gear

A collection of cricket gear belonging to Australian players including Greg Chappell and Bill O'Reilly covers more than five decades of the game.

> More on the Swan Richards cricket collection

Ernabella Arts collection

Ernabella batiks

Several distinctive silk batiks are among the latest additions to the National Museum's rich collection of work from Ernabella Arts, one of Australia's longest continuously running Aboriginal arts organisations.

> More on the new Ernabella works

First Fleet table

First Fleet table

A small Pembroke worktable dating from the 1790s helps to tell a remarkable story about style, patronage and commerce in the early days of the Australian colony.

> More on the First Fleet table

Governor King's snuffbox

Snuffbox

A silver snuffbox presented to New South Wales Governor Philip Gidley King in 1801 marks the birthday of an English king and the gratitude of an early naval officer.

> More on the silver snuffbox

Liz Ellis netball collection

Liz Ellis netball display

Australia's leading representative netballer Liz Ellis has contributed a goal keeper's uniform to a new netball display at the National Museum.

> More on the Liz Ellis netball collection

Convict love tokens

Convict love tokens

Small coins engraved with messages of affection from convicts to their loved ones are a rare personal and emotional record from prisoners transported from England to Australia.

> More on the convict love tokens

Southern Cloud clock

Southern Cloud clock

A clock salvaged from the Southern Cloud aeroplane, wrecked in Australia's first major civil air disaster, came to the National Museum after a chance schoolyard sale 30 years ago.

> More on the Southern Cloud clock


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