Connecting Images to the Indigenous Object Collections of Southeastern Australia

Survey the cultural content of images taken of Victorian Aboriginal people, particularly in the 19th century, and relate this to the holdings in the museum’s object collection from southeastern Australia.

This project involves researching, identifying, collating and reconciling the content of images (photographs, drawings etc.) with specific objects in Museum Victoria’s Indigenous collections from southeastern Australia. The project/s can be tailored to requirements of the course or the particular student, and could focus on as little as a single object or class of objects, such as items of body adornment (necklaces, body painting, headbands, etc.), coiled items (baskets, eel traps and mats), wooden objects (like weapons, shields, boomerangs, clubs, etc.), or possum-skin cloaks in the image collection. Comparisons with other institutions’ holdings, or the inclusion of these, could be considered.

Improved knowledge and understanding of the history relating to objects in Museum Victoria’s southeastern collections and the building of a body of data, and charting the provenance of specific objects. The findings will include linking relevant images with objects and with additional information and relevant background/published material.

Participate in research development on the most significant international holdings of Aboriginal material from southeast Australia, on which limited focused material culture research has been conducted. The project would assist in documenting the collection and provides an invaluable opportunity for hands-on, professional museum and research skills development (e.g. database enhancement, handling museum collections, working with a range of museum professionals behind the scenes).

Undertaking a relevant degree in History, Anthropology, Archaeology, Museum Studies, Material Culture, Conservation, or other relevant research experience.