A 19th century Aboriginal ancestral breastplate has been returned to Country, entrusted by the community to be held at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum.

A brass breastplate with inscribed words: Mary Carpenter Queen of Jarvis Bay.
Unknown, Breastplate of Mary Carpenter - Queen of Jarvis Bay, 1880–1910, Image courtesy of Jervis Bay Maritime Museum, 2026.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned the following story contains the names of deceased persons.

A ceremony was held on 12 June at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum in New South Wales to acknowledge the return to Country of the breastplate, which will go on display at the Museum from 23 June 2026.

The breastplate was made between 1880-1910 and belonged to Queen Mary Carpenter, a famous resident of the Jerrinja Aboriginal Community. Queen Mary and her husband James Golding, also known as ‘Billy Budd II, King of Jarvis Bay’, played a prominent role in local Aboriginal community life.

The whereabouts of this breastplate was unknown after Queen Mary’s death until it was recently listed at auction. Acquisition of the breastplate was made with assistance from the Australian Government’s National Cultural Heritage Account.

The National Cultural Heritage Account helps to retain and protect Australia's cultural heritage for future generations and provide public access to important objects that tell a story about historical and cultural identity.

Through the Cultural Heritage Account organisations can apply for funding to acquire, protect and provide access to significant objects of Australian heritage to ensure they are kept in Australia. Objects such as the breastplate of Queen Mary Carpenter, are of cultural and historical significance for First Nations Australians. Their preservation and access support the increased understanding and sharing of important personal stories for the people and communities connected to these objects and who have been impacted by the historical events surrounding them. Pieces such as these are also of significant importance in documenting and learning about colonisation in Australia and its impact on First Nations peoples.

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