Queensland Museum honours South Sea Islander heritage

More than just sugar, the histories and lived experiences of Australian South Sea Islanders are intricately woven into the tapestry of this country’s diverse cultural landscape. However, this part of Australia’s story remains relatively unknown.

On the 30th anniversary of National Recognition for Australian South Sea Islanders, Say Our Name: Australian South Sea Islanders brings into focus the community’s tumultuous history and how in its aftermath a new community was born.

Curated by Queensland Museum with Queensland’s Australian South Sea Islander community, Say our Name brings together historical and contemporary objects, documentation, photographs, artworks, and digital stories held in major collecting institutions, as well as smaller private collections.

Entry to Say our Name exhibition

Say Our Name: Australian South Sea Islanders exhibition. Image: Queensland Museum.

Featuring historical artefacts from the Queensland Museum collection including items from the Australian South Sea Islander Kastom Collection created in the 1990s, and the shipwreck Foam.

Foam was a labour vessel shipwrecked in Queensland waters that tells the stories of the South Sea Islander labour trade, and movement of people from islands in the Pacific to Queensland, and the personal objects they brought with them.

These items are interwoven with newly commissioned works by Australian South Sea Islander artists providing a profound narrative of creativity and storytelling throughout the exhibition.

Through this project, researchers have worked with community in Ayr, Mackay, Rockhampton and Joskeleigh to share invaluable insights into the lives and histories of the local Australian South Sea Islander communities.

Say Our Name aims to encourage understanding and dialogue about Queensland's history, from its troubling past of exploiting indentured labour (known as blackbirding) to current reflections on heritage and belonging.

Say Our Name: Australian South Sea Islanders is a free exhibition on at Queensland Museum Kuripla, Brisbane until 13 July 2025.

Queensland government event on recognition of Australian South Sea Islanders in 2000

Queensland government event on recognition of Australian South Sea Islanders in 2000.