Domestic repatriation

The Indigenous Repatriation Program—Museum Grants (the Program) supports the return of Australian First Nations peoples' ancestral remains (ancestors) and secret sacred objects (objects) held in the collections of eight major Australian museums to their Traditional Custodians. The eight eligible major museums are: Australia Museum, National Museum of Australia, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Museum Victoria, Queensland Museum, South Australian Museum, Tasmanian Museum and Gallery and Western Australian Museum.

These eight museums are eligible to apply for funding under the Program to work in partnership with identified First Nations communities to return their ancestors and objects. The Australian Government recognises the importance and cultural significance of First Nations communities being directly involved in the repatriation process. It is estimated that more than 3,600 ancestors and more than 2,300 secret sacred objects have been returned to the custodianship of their Communities. Each museum funded under the Program is responsible for the management of their respective repatriation programs. 2025–26 grants are in place for seven of the eligible Museums.

Objectives for the Program are to:

Identify the origin of ancestors and objects held in the collections of the funded museums.
Empower First Nations communities to be involved in the repatriation of ancestors and objects.
Repatriate ancestors and objects in the funded museums' collections to their Traditional Custodians.
Facilitate discussion with Traditional Custodians for culturally appropriate storage and access to ancestors and objects.
Support the engagement and/or employment of First Nations people to provide assistance, support and cultural advice to progress the repatriation of ancestors and objects to their Traditional Custodians.

Museum Grants - Highlights

Australian Museum
At the Australian Museum, visits from Community led to the identification of Warlpiri objects and further information on their use and makers. The Australian Museum consulted with Galiwin’ku elders on the repatriation of ancestors and objects, producing a draft research report and continuing to develop a Return to Country Plan. Five secret sacred objects were transferred to the custodianship of the Wellington Local Aboriginal Land Council in December 2024. Research was completed on two South Australian Ngarrindjeri ancestors with a final report being provided to Ngarrindjeri Elders in anticipation of a future transfer of custodianship.
Queensland Museum
Queensland Museum completed provenance research on all holdings of Bigambul secret sacred objects and ancestors. Identified objects and ancestors will now be packed in preparation for a future return to Country.
Western Australian Museum
Eight Mirning ancestors were transferred in early March 2025 to the care of staff from Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage and re-buried by Mirning Traditional Owners. A Menang ancestor from the WA Museum Collection was also transferred to Menang Traditional Owners and re-buried in May 2025. Ongoing discussions were held on the future return to Country of a Cossack ancestor.
Museums Victoria
In August 2024, 80 Barengi Gadjin ancestors and one grave good were reburied on Country. Museums Victoria also facilitated two visits by Warlpiri elders in 2024-25 to identify secret sacred objects, with the formal repatriation of approximately 31 Warlpiri objects now being planned.
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
Consultations took place in relation to the return of six Arrente sacred objects, with the repatriation of these objects now planned for 2026. Additional consultations were held with community in relation to five Western Desert objects. Object boxes were constructed to house Djinang objects and appropriate boxing of 17 Warlpiri objects.
South Australian Museum
67 ancestors were approved for repatriation as part of five claims (from the Nauo, Ngadjuri Nation, Dieri and Irrwanyere Aboriginal Corporations and the Larrakia Development Corporation) - these are being temporarily held at the South Australia Museum as the groups develop their return to Country plans. The Irrwanyere Aboriginal Corporation reburied an ancestor on Country. Nineteen Larrakia secret sacred items were returned to Larrakia Country and are being temporarily held at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory pending completion of the Larrakia Cultural Centre in 2026. Significant progress was made towards the reburial of 123 Kaurna ancestors and 9 Dieri ancestors, which will occur in October 2025, and the establishment of a resting place for Ngarrindjeri ancestors.
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
In October 2024, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) returned eight hair samples from Tasmanian Aboriginal people to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre. Of the eight returned, seven of these were known ancestors. At a meeting in June 2025 the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania agreed that TMAG could apply for a permit under the Aboriginal Heritage Act to return petroglyphs from Greenes Creek and Sundown Point back to Community. This is currently underway.
Australian Museum
The AM returned one ancestor to the Worimi Community. Research was also undertaken to clarify the provenance of several other ancestors and consultation was undertaken with a number of communities, including in relation to more than 200 objects. Work to appropriately store a number of ancestors and objects, including 435 Cyclons, was also completed.
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
Community members from a number of Communities visited MAGNT as part of consultations undertaken to progress the return of more than 90 objects to Country. Research relating to some of these objects was also undertaken to assist in determining provenance.
Queensland Museum
Significant preparatory work was undertaken in relation to the return of a Petroglyph to Country, including in relation to required permits and transport and logistics arrangements. Consultation on the possible return of one ancestor to Sydney was also undertaken.
South Australian Museum
SAM facilitated the return of two ancestors to the Warlpiri community and the reburial of 70 Kaurna ancestors at the Wangayarta, Smithfield Memorial Park. SAM undertook research to confirm the provenance of 96 ancestors and 22 objects from a number of Communities; and made substantial progress towards the establishment of a Ngarrindjeri Resting Place.
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
Provenance research and other preparations, including reboxing, were made in relation to the return of three Cyclons to the Adnyamathanha Community in South Australia. Discussions were held relating to the return of five Petroglyphs within Tasmania, along with the preparation of custom-built crates for the transportation of the five Petroglyphs.
Western Australian Museum
Important groundwork towards future returns occurred, including information discussions between WAM and the Martu Community, and consideration of a final location for the reburial of eight Mirning ancestors.
Museums Victoria
Agreement on the timing of the return of 80 Barenji Gadjin ancestors was achieved. An initial visit by a Community representative to MV in relation to 11 objects provenanced to the Warlpiri Community also took place—this will be followed by a further Community visit in 2024–25.
Australian Museum
The AM repatriated one ancestor to the Jali LALC (Ballina), one ancestor to the Githabul Native Title PBC and four ancestors to the Mudgee LALC. Research was also undertaken which has further clarified provenance for other ancestors.
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
MAGNT repatriated 14 secret sacred objects from Arnhem Land and 24 secret sacred objects from Papunya to their traditional custodians. A further 29 secret sacred objects from Arnhem Land were also identified for repatriation.
Queensland Museum
Three ancestors and three secret sacred objects were returned to the Mappoon community. 19 engraved rocks located at the Griffith University Nathan campus were relocated to a safe location within the campus grounds, until they are able to be returned.
South Australian Museum
SAM returned 45 ancestors for reburial to the Wankangurru Yarlunyandi, Narungga and Far West Coast Communities as well as eight secret sacred objects to traditional custodians at Yuendumu. Further research was also undertaken which confirmed the provenance of 27 Nukunu ancestors.
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
TMAG returned 14 petroglyphs to Preminghana in November 2022. Initial works were undertaken in relation to the return of the Greene’s Creek petroglyphs.
Western Australian Museum
In late 2021, the Museum received a request from the Mirning community for the return of nine Ancestors. A request from the Mirning Traditional Lands Aboriginal Corporation (MTLAC) was subsequently made to undertake a visit to the Eucla area to assess possible locations for a re-burial event This visit resulted in the identification of a location near Eucla for the re-burial of ancestors from the immediate area and addressed suggestions to consider a second re-burial location for ancestors recovered from further west.

Museums Grants - Repatriations

Over the last three years a total of 432 ancestors and 137 secret sacred objects have been collectively returned by seven state and territory museums.

Museums Repatriation Representatives Meeting

ndigenous Repatriation Program – Museum Grants Program staff

The annual meeting of museum repatriation officers was held in Darwin in May 2025. It provided a valuable opportunity for departmental and state and territory museum staff working on the Indigenous Repatriation Program – Museum Grants Program to meet, share ideas and discuss the program for the year ahead, including proposed 2025-26 activities.

Holding the meeting in Darwin provided a valuable opportunity to focus on the Northern Territory, including working with the visiting Galiwin’ku elders and Warlpiri communities. There were also presentations on the new Larrakia Cultural Centre and the work of the Strehlow Research Centre, which is part of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT).

Museum staff from across Australia presented on projects that the grants program is contributing to, including the development of a Ngarrindjeri Resting Place in South Australia, and returns of Aboriginal ancestral remains to Communities in Western Australia. Meeting attendees also heard from the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies on the Return of Cultural Heritage Program and planned Ngurra keeping place in Canberra.

More information

For more information on the Program, email repatriation@arts.gov.au.

For more information about the respective museum repatriation programs and the return of ancestors and objects in their safekeeping, please contact the museums directly.