Gallery tour

Photo: Dean McNicoll.

For thousands of years Aboriginal people have skilfully utilised stone and fire as effective tools. The First Australians gallery features an extensive range of tools used by Aboriginal people. It demonstrates how these tools were made and the different techniques used to make them.

Photo: National Museum of Australia.

The Kimberley points display features the Museum's collections of these highly-prized tools and trade goods. Spearheads made in the Kimberley region of northern Western Australia have been found 1400 kilometres away. Since Europeans arrived in the region the points have also been crafted from ceramic telegraph insulators and bottle glass. Aboriginal people were quick to realise the advantages: metal, glass and ceramics are easier to work with, give a very sharp edge and need less resharpening.

Photo: Dean McNicoll.

This display features the different types of stone and techniques that Aboriginal people have used to produce different types of stone tools.

Stone-tool makers have a detailed knowledge of the properties of different types of stone, and how to work each one. They use four techniques: grinding (rubbing two stones against each other), hammer-dressing (gently tapping one stone with another), percussion flaking (striking one stone with another) and pressure flaking (pressing a wood or bone tool against the edge of a stone to remove small flakes).

Photo: George Serras.

This display highlights the different ways in which Aboriginal people made fire. Some people kept a glowing stick. Others used a fire drill and a fire saw; both of which work by using heat generated by friction to ignite dry tinder such as grass. While these methods are still occasionally used, today most people use matches or lighters.

Photo: George Serras.

The portrait wall features photographs representing the many faces of the First Australians, reminding the visitors that history is a human experience. The portraits vary across generations with images of the young and the not so young, as well as portraits from past generations. It demonstrates the continuous presence of Indigenous people in Australia.

Photo: George Serras.

The Frieze is an audiovisual presentation across 11 screens that features the geographical, environmental and cultural diversity of Indigenous Australians.