A Change Is Gonna Come | National Museum of Australia

Skip to content

9am–5pm
Free general admission
Shop

Donate today

The 1967 referendum and the 1992 Mabo decision were significant events in the ongoing struggle to achieve equal rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This exhibition was inspired by the 1964 civil rights song ‘A change is gonna come’.

A Change is Gonna Come was on display at the National Museum of Australia from 24 May 2017 to 28 January 2018.

Exhibition highlights

A red cardboard covered diary. The cover reads 'THE GIANT Memo. Book 3D.' - click to view larger image — Anthony Martin Fernando’s notebook, 1929–30

A rectangular calico banner featuring an inscription in blue and red paint which reads 'THE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES LEAGUE, THE ABORIGINE SPEAKS_THE VOICE of THE ABORIGINE MUST BE HEARD'. - click to view larger image — Australian Aborigines League banner made by Bill Onus, late 1940s or early 1950s

A yellow passport with a cover showing the Aboriginal flag with the text 'ABORIGINAL NATION PASSPORT'. - click to view larger image — Passport issued by the Aboriginal Provisional Government, 1990

Land rights banner used by members of the Communist Party of Australia in Sydney, about 1982

A rectangular yellow tuckerbox box painted green inside and a rusted hook. - click to view larger image — Joe McGinness’s wharfie’s hook, 1950s, and tuckerbox, in use 1960s–70s

A pair of ladies' short white gloves. - click to view larger image — Faith Bandler’s gloves, about 1960s

atA circular metal badge with a navy blue border with white text reading, 'REFERENDUM FOR ABORIGINES'. The centre of the badge reads: 'VOTE YES'. - click to view larger image — Vote YES’ badge, 1967

A paper leaflet with a black and white photo of an Aboriginal baby's face. Text to the left reads ''YES' for Aborigine. Write YES for Aborigines in the lower square. May 27th. authorised by Faith Bandler. 13 Kens Road. Frenchs Forest'. - click to view larger image — 'YES’ for Aborigines pamphlet, 1967

A cylindrical wooden club, with a bulbous head ending in a point. - click to view larger image — Nulla (club) belonging to Jimmy Clements, about 1912

A 'NATIONAL' reel to reel tape recorder made from black plastic and silver coloured metal, with a power cable, a handle at the top, and a removable black plastic cover. - click to view larger image — Stan Davey’s tape recorder and reels, about 1970s

A headband fashioned from a length of silky red material, machine hemmed along both edges with thick black cotton thread and with the two ends joined together with a double knot. - click to view larger image — Barrie Pittock’s headband, 1970

A dark brown metal spur with leather and buckle boot attachment. - click to view larger image — Wave Hill spur

Cover of a yellow leaflet with the text 'BOYCOTT VESTEY PRODUCTS. Support the Gurindjis of Wattie Creek against exploitation by Vesteys and recognise their right tribal land'. - click to view larger image — Wave Hill Walk-Off leaflet

A J shaped, curved tobacco pipe with a brown Briarwood bowl, nickel cap and and a black mouthpiece. - click to view larger image — Frank Hardy’s pipe, after 1960s

A rectangular, galvanised metal voting box with a hinged lid. The text 'CE WA 3027' is on the front of the box and the number '3027' is repeated in black marker. - click to view larger image — Ballot box, 1960s

A placard. The text 'WE WANT LAND RIGHTS RIGHT NOW' has been painted in black paint on a rectangular masonite board, with a painted white background. 'WHEN' has been added in purple felt pen. - click to view larger image — Land rights sign from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra, about 1972

Nudging and shoving for change

Indigenous referendum

Defining Moments 1967 referendum panel discussion

Daily, free First Australians

Banner photo: Alick Jackomos

Top