Summary

Poster featuring the Northcote Koorie Mural with accompanying explanatory panels. The mural was designed by Megan Evans in consultation with a committee from the Aborigines Advancement League including Lin Onus, Molly Dyer, Ron Johnson, Elizabeth Hoffman. It was painted by renowned Aboriginal artists Ray Thomas, Ian Johnson, Millie Yarran, Les Griggs, Elaine Trott and Megan Evans with the help of many other volunteers in the early 1980s on St. Georges Road, Thornbury.

The poster's explanatory panels state: 'From left to right: [TOP] - (i) William Barak (1824-1903) Woewarong Tribe, painting Corroboree scene (ii) Victorian Aborigines (tribe unknown) photographed in Upper Yarra region in 1858. (iii) Women from Yarra Tribe region, chests decorated with keloids. (iv) Wurundjeri tribal warrior. (v) Aboriginal in bark canoe, Badger Creek, Coranderrk (Healesville). (vi) Represents the Aboriginal resistance to the white invasion. (vii) Represents the dispossession and oppression of the Aboriginal race. (viii) Aboriginal writers and speakers are quoted depicting their special attachment to the land. (ix) Land rights march in 1965, led by Pastor Sir Douglas Nichols. (x) Aboriginal people from the past and present calling for recognition through Land Rights. (xi) Tent embassy in Canberra 1972. (xii) Head represents looking toward the future. (xiii) Designs from inside of possum skin rugs. [BOTTOM] - (i) Painting by Barak of Corroboree scene (below) women in possum skin cloaks. (ii) Patterns from Victorian shields often representing tribal maps. (iii) Silhouette paintings by Tommy McCrae (182?-1901) depicting dancing scenes. (iv) Aboriginals wearing possum skin cloaks Coranderrk. (v) Women wearing possum skin rug. (vi) Silhouette paintings by Tommy McCrae 'War Dance' 1865. (vii) Represents the white invasion. (viii) Spearthrowers, clubs, parrying shields, broad shields, boomerangs; represents the burial of the culture. (ix) A map of Victoria showing land previously granted to the Aboriginal communities and land now under Aboriginal control. (x) A map of south-eastern Australia showing its tribal territories.'

Due to extensive weather damage and material deterioration, the mural was restored in 2013. The original painted painted were removed and replaced with a digital print reproduction, including an additional panel.

Physical Description

Colour ink on paper. Title: 'Northcote Koorie Mural Project'. Features a painted mural with accompanying explanations in printed black text on white background.

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