Created in the 1950s by members of the Nunggubuyu clan at Rose River in Arnhem Land for the Church Missionary Society, this highly original collection offers a rare and valuable testimony to the hunting and fishing practices of the Aboriginal people from this coastal region.
These miniature models—true "masterpieces" or "prototypes"—offer an exceptional representation of traditional tools, which were typically made from the extremely durable wood of a variety of eucalyptus known as "Ironwood". The spears feature a variety of tip shapes, each adapted to the type of animal being hunted, and made from both traditional materials (such as cypress wood) and modern ones (like barbed wire and metal). As such, they function not only as traditional spears but also as harpoons.
This set also includes a spear-thrower. Indeed, such spears were not thrown using arm strength alone: to increase their power and range, a device called a “woomera” was used to propel them.