We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land.
We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.
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The William Barak Collection
William Barak was a leader of the Wurundjeri and King of the Yarra Yarra. He was considered 'bridge builder of the Kulin nation' leaving a strong legacy as a prominent leader, spokesperson, artist, activist and cultural ambassador for his people..
Over his lifetime William Barak created a series of unique paintings, drawings and artefacts, recording the traditional ways of his culture and passing this knowledge down through the generations. Most of his paintings were completed at Coranderrk reserve in his later years and it was during his last two decades that he painted the ceremonial side of Wurundjeri culture - in particular, corroborees and related ceremonial dance.
Painting - Watercolor and charcoal, William Barak, 'Ceremony', c. 1890s, National Gallery of Victoria
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William Barak was a leader of the Wurundjeri, one of the groups of the East Kulin nation, the traditional owners of the lands now occupied by Federation Square.
Painting - Brown ochre and charcoal on cardboard, William Barak, Untitled [ceremonial dance], c. 1880s, State Library Victoria
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A painting by William Barak (Berac), believed to feature one of the ceremonies of his clan - the Woiwurung. As well as a painter, Barak (Berac) was Ngurungaeta, a clan leader.
Painting - Pencil, gouache, earth pigments, charcoal on paper (O.1-1994), William Barak, 'Ceremony with rainbow serpent', c. 1880, National Gallery of Victoria
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William Barak [c. 1824 - 1903] was a senior member of the Wurundjeri people who lived on the land presently occupied by the city of Melbourne. He began painting in the 1880s and left a remarkable record of Aboriginal life and culture.
Painting - Brown ochre and charcoal on cardboard, William Barak, 'Ceremony, with wallaby and emu', c. 1880s, State Library Victoria
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This painting features a ceremony which depicts hunting, with wallaby and emu. William Barak was ngurunggaeta (a clan leader) of the Woiwurung (Wurundjeri).
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Conditions of use
All rights reserved
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This shield (and Barak’s club) were purchased by the Koorie Heritage Trust in 1991 from a private collector.
The collector had purchased both artefacts from a shop called 'Decoration’ in Little Collins Street many years prior. 'Made by King Barak Last of the Yarra Tribe 18/12/97' is inscribed on the club in cursive script in black ink.
Weapon - Wooden club (AH1695), William Barak, 1897, Koorie Heritage Trust
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Conditions of use
All rights reserved
This media item is licensed under "All rights reserved". You cannot share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) or rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) this item, or use it for commercial purposes without the permission of the copyright owner. However, an exception can be made if your intended use meets the "fair dealing" criteria. Uses that meet this criteria include research or study; criticism or review; parody or satire; reporting news; enabling a person with a disability to access material; or professional advice by a lawyer, patent attorney, or trademark attorney.
Attribution
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
The reuse of this media requires cultural approval
This club (and Barak’s shield) were purchased by the Trust in 1991 from a private collector.
The collector had purchased both artefacts from a shop called 'Decoration’ in Little Collins Sreet many years prior. 'Made by King Barak Last of the Yarra Tribe 18/12/97' is inscribed on the shield in cursive script in black ink.
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands
where we live, learn and work.
