Collecting and Presenting the Past

Abstract

As early as the 1870s and 80s it was common throughout parts of Australia for settlers to collect Aboriginal artefacts and curiosities of natural history -- stone axes, snake-skins, unusual feathers, egg-shells and so on -- bringing them home and putting them away in cabinets or drawers. Some collectors were highly discriminating and even created small private museums. Teachers also encouraged children to help in building up museums for their schools, hoping thereby to give them an intelligent grasp of their environment. This was an effort in keeping up with contemporary educational theory. Many colonists of that generation showed a newfound interest in knowing more about the Australian countryside and especially their own corner of it.