Tribute to pearl culture

The Kimberley’s pearling history has been given a national spotlight in a new exhibition at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra that opened on February 22.

Lustre: Pearling & Australiatells the story of Australia’s pearling industry and showcases the beauty, significance and intrigue of pearls and pearlshell across time and cultures.

Pearlshell remains highly valued among many Aboriginal communities and has been a vital element in long-distance trade across northern Australia and into the desert for thousands of years.

The exhibition was the result of a partnership between local Yawuru Aboriginal corporation Nyamba Buru Yawuru and the Western Australian Museum, and intertwines ancient Aboriginal trade stories with recent industry developments.

It was developed in close consultation with senior Yawuru, Karajarri, Bardi and Jawi, and Mayala elders from Saltwater Country in the West Kimberley.

The exhibition was also supported by the Visions of Australia regional touring program, a Federal Government initiative aiming to improve access to cultural material for all Australians.

WA Museum chief executive Alec Coles said Lustre was an exhibition about pearling told largely from an Aboriginal perspective, and pays tribute to the skills of Asian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander indentured workers that gave their lives to the industry.

“Lustre also investigates the biology of the pearl oyster and its environment as well as the devastating impact of cyclones on the industry,” he said.

“It tells the unique Australian story of the pearlshell and the pearls that they produce.

“It explores the relationships between the people of pearling and the industry that emerged in Australia.”

National Museum of Australia director Dr Matthew Trinca said he was delighted to bring this important travelling exhibition to Canberra and thanked the Western Australian Museum for the ongoing partnership.

“Lustre is both beautiful and historically important, exploring how Aboriginal people have valued and collected pearlshell for at least 20,000 years, and examining the modern industry which has developed around this highly-prized resource,” he said.

Lustre features a historic hard-hat diving helmet, various examples of luminous carved pearlshell and a rare 2000 year-old near-round pearl.

The exhibition also includes vibrant audiovisual material.

It will be on display at the National Museum of Australia until July 22.