Collections

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, storytelling is an essential part of sharing knowledge and information. This part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is often overlooked because, prior to colonisation, our stories were usually transferred through oral communication, dance or art.

Since colonisation, this knowledge and information has been collected and placed inside institutions like galleries, archives, museums, and libraries. UQ has been a significant collector of Indigenous knowledge and information, and a range of different on-campus collecting institutions have been established.

In this section of the module, you will learn about significant collecting institutions at UQ and the Indigenous knowledge housed within these institutions.

The University of Queensland Library

UQ Library is the custodian of several large and diverse collections and provide all UQ staff and students with access to information that enables academic learning, teaching, and research.

UQ Library’s general collection is dispersed across eleven libraries, with additional material being held at the Warehouse at Gatton campus and in digital or electronic formats online. In addition to the general collection, UQ has partnerships with various vendors to ensure staff and students have access to current journals and research. A range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge can be found within the general collection, including material created by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers. To help users find Indigenous knowledge, the Library has curated the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Resources collection.

UQ Library is the custodian of the Fryer Manuscript special collections, which include primary source material. These collections include publications, manuscripts and recordings created by Aboriginal and Torres Start Islander leaders, activists, artists and writers. Also housed in Fryer Manuscripts is research compiled by linguists and anthropologists which assist in the preservation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. To search these resources, visit the Fryer Library Manuscripts website.

In recent years, the definition and scope of libraries has expanded. While physical books and materials are important, libraries at UQ are also knowledge centres with computer and IT services, support and wellbeing resources, and a variety of study environments that cater to different needs. Visit the Library website to find out more about the Library and their collections.

The University of Queensland Anthropology Museum

The UQ Anthropology Museum is the custodian of art, artefacts and photographs that are significant to the field of anthropology both in Australia and overseas. Based at St Lucia campus, the UQ Anthropology Museum was formed in 1948 when Dr Lindsey Winterbotham donated 1000 objects to the university. This makes the UQ Anthropology Museum older than the establishment of an Anthropology Department at UQ.

Since its formation, the UQ Anthropology Museum has continued to grow its collection, which includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artefacts and materials from across Australia. The UQ Anthropology Museum has a long-standing relationship with local Indigenous people and is well-known for its exhibitions relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures.

In 2017, Michael Aird curated the exhibition ‘From Relics to Rights: Aboriginal People and Anthropology at the University of Queensland’. This exhibition looked at featured images and objects relating to Aboriginal history at UQ. Information from this exhibition helped inform some of the content in this module and signifies the importance of Indigenous knowledge at UQ today.

Go to the UQ Anthropology Museum website to read highlights from past exhibitions and to keep up-to-date with current and future projects. The website also has information about opening hours and events.

The University of Queensland Art Museum

The UQ Art Museum is the custodian of one of the most significant art collections in Queensland. The UQ Art Museum provides free exhibitions, public programs, teaching and learning facilities and resources, and engages in cultural mediation to support visitors in actively participating and engaging with collections and exhibitions. Significantly, the UQ Art Museum is the custodian of works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and performers.

The building that now houses the UQ Art Museum, Mayne Hall, was opened in 1973 and named in honour of James and Mary Emelia Mayne. After renovations, Mayne Hall was reopened in 2004 and became the new home to the Art Museum. As you travel around campus, you may see artworks from the Art Museum’s collection. You can visit the Art Museum’s website for more information about their collections and opening hours.

The University of Queensland Archives

UQ Archives collects and preserves records relating to the history of UQ. The collection focus for UQ Archives is administrative history and corporate accountability. While UQ Archives do not hold Indigenous knowledge specifically, they do hold information that relates to the Indigenous history of UQ, including images from historical events and information about past Indigenous staff and students. Visit the UQ Archives website for more information about their collection and how you can view material.

Other Collecting Institutions

UQ is home to many other collecting institutions such as the RD Milns Antiquities Museum, located at UQ’s St Lucia campus, and the UQ Gatton Museum. As Indigenous knowledge continues to be unearthed and revived across UQ, more information about these institutions and their collections will be added to this module.

Video overview of the chapter – UQ has a Blak history – Collections (YouTube, 2m 51s):