First Nations Hub
A dedicated space for First Nations community, cultures and history
Welcome to the First Nations Hub, a space and place to celebrate and engage with First Nations cultures, knowledge and perspectives.
You will find First Nations content across our website, but this hub is a dedicated space that brings this content together so it’s easy to find, and for deeper stories, conversations, truth-telling and ideas. It’s a place for and by First Nations people and communities; a living space that will change and grow.
Why Museums of History NSW?
Our First Nations staff put some questions to our leadership about Museums of History NSW, and its relevance and commitment to First Nations people
What's on
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Opens 30 March
Featured exhibition
Murmurations
Artists Tony Albert and Angela Tiatia have teamed up with creatives Lille Madden, Alina Olivares-Panucci and Corin Ileto
30 March, 6pm
Talk
Murmurations: Artist Talk
Join Angela Tiatia and Tony Albert as they discuss their major new work, Murmurations
21 May, 11am & 1pm
Tour
Art in Warrane
Join us for a public art walking tour through the rich history and cultural heritage of Sydney’s Hyde Park Barracks and surrounding areas
13 April, 6pm
Talk
First Nations Speaker Series: Tony Albert
Presented in collaboration with GML Heritage and the Research Centre for Deep History at the Australian National University
Workshop
Make your own love token
Join us for a hands-on activity that asks you to think about the strong bonds that remain between loved ones even when migration keeps people apart
Workshop
Weaving a Connection to Culture
Join First Nations facilitators from Australia and the Pacific who will share their unique weaving practices
12-13 April, 10am & 2pm
Workshop
Make your own lei using recycled materials
Kids will learn how to make their very own lei using recycled materials
28 May, 10am-3pm
Festival
Murmurations: Community Cultural Festival
This family-friendly event will include performance, workshops, talks and food
Permanent display
Gadigal Place
The Gadigal Place gallery honours the diverse and complex history, culture and survival of the Gadigal clan on whose land the Museum of Sydney stands
Permanent display
Edge of Trees
This site-specific piece commissioned for the forecourt of the Museum of Sydney at its opening in 1995 was created by artists Fiona Foley and Janet Laurence
Permanent display
Healing land, remembering Country
A powerful work by Kuku Yalanji artist Tony Albert
First Nations stories
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Weaving their magic: Amy Hammond and Lorrelle Munro
We spoke to weavers Amy and Lorrelle, co-founders of Yinarr Maramali and weavers-in-residence at The Weaving Room in the Museum of Sydney
First Nations
The future of the colony's dreaming
The Museum of Sydney site is set to be transformed into a new First Nations cultural space
First Nations
A fisher woman of Warrane
Daringa’s short but fascinating life reflects the connection of coastal Aboriginal peoples to the water, and the key role played by women in the fishing economy
Meet our First Nations team
Hayden Walsh
First Nations Advisor
Hayden Walsh is a proud Aboriginal man from Sydney. For the past 10 years, he has worked across the education and not-for-profit sectors, along with many years in the arts and museum space. In this time, Hayden has been leading cultural engagement, producing community programs, and most recently, developing and now delivering the new First Nations Strategy across Museums of History NSW. Since the age of 19, Hayden has also founded and lead his own business, a social enterprise called ‘Think Successful’, which delivers high-quality personal development programs and workshops for young people across Australia.
Tess Allas
First Nations Curator
Tess Allas is a Wiradjuri curator and has strong links to Tharawal country in Wollongong. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Arts from the University of Wollongong and a Masters of Curation from the University of Sydney. For the past three decades Tess has curated many exhibitions of First Nations contemporary art in both Australia and Internationally for organisations including Wollongong Art Gallery, Carriageworks, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney Opera House, Art Gallery of South Australia, Murray Art Museum Albury, Gorman Museum (University of California), the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection (University of Virginia). In 2021 Tess wrote the Museum of Sydney’s Indigenous Contemporary Art Acquisition Strategy. Tess firmly believes in the power of contemporary art in having the ability to correct history and uncover hidden truths.
Peter White
Head of First Nations Cultural Engagement
Peter White is a Gamilaroi Murri from north-west NSW who has held a number of senior positions and advisory roles in major cultural institutions and government arts agencies. After completing an applied sciences degree in cultural heritage management, he intended to train for a National Parks and Wildlife Service position so that he could care for country and work to protect sites of Aboriginal significance, but his destiny changed during an excursion to the Australian Museum in Sydney. Peter has since worked with a number of museums on a broad range of projects and initiatives. He sees his role as navigating change and developing a new consciousness in management, staff and audiences to value Aboriginal culture and people, and their communities’ perspectives.
Samantha Snedden
Producer, First Nations Programs
Samantha Snedden is a Dunghutti and Wiradjuri woman who has grown up on Darug land. Connecting to culture and community has always been a passion, which has been passed down from her grandparents. These passions are what led Samantha to her current position as Producer, First Nations Programs with Sydney Living Museums and now Museums of History NSW. In her time here, she has produced a broad program of cultural events, festivals and talks, working with mob, artists and engaging community.
Dave Key
Visitor Services Coordinator
In a previous life Dave Key followed his passion for music by performing in small bands and working as a music sales rep for BMG Music. Then other passions took over, and a love of people, history and the natural environment led Dave to teaching history and geography at a performing arts high school, wading through mangrove mud teaching students how to assess the health of estuaries in Homebush Bay and demonstrating responsible and sustainable fishing practices by teaching children how to fish in his capacity as Community Education Officer for NSW Fisheries. He joined our team (then Historic Houses Trust of NSW) in 2010, and as the visitor services coordinator for the Meroogal and Western Sydney Portfolio since 2012 Dave brings all of his experiences to sharing his passion for history, land and culture with audiences old and new.
First Nations Speaker Series
Presented in collaboration with GML Heritage and the Research Centre for Deep History at the Australian National University