Indigenous New South Wales
Aborigines watched from the hills as Captain Cook first sailed into what is now Port Botany. Little did they know the significant impact this landing would have on their ancient culture.
The Australian government has invested in cultural facilities so that the indigenous way of life can be celebrated.
The Yiribana Gallery, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, is one of the largest spaces in Australia dedicated to Aborigine and Torres Strait Islander art. The collection is especially known for its bark paintings and artefacts from Arnhem Land, in the far north of the country. Most of the pieces were collected in the late Fifties and Sixties.
The most famous Aboriginal artists have donated large collections of artwork to the gallery – Timmy Timms and Ginger Riley, for example.
Aboriginal culture may seem like something you have to make excursions to experience, but Aboriginal musicians play around pubs, in Sydney in particular. It is a relatively common site to see Aboriginal bands like Tiddas or soloists like Jimmy Little playing on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Indigenous music has become more prominent in recent years with more radio play and help from mainstreamers like the John Butler Trio and Xavier Rudd pushing the cause for Aboriginal people.
Aborigines are one of the oldest races in the world and they have a history and rich culture to match.
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