The Powerhouse acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the ancestral homelands upon which our museums are situated. We respect their Elders, past, present and future and recognise their continuous connection to Country.

Mabo - Life of an Island Man

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The Mabo Decision was a turning point for the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' rights, acknowledging unique Ancestral connections to country; and challenged Governor Bourke's 1835 Declaration of Terra Nullius - the notion of no-man's land.

Mabo was the key plaintiff of the 'Mabo case' which successfully challenged the notion of Terra Nullius as the basis for Crown ownership of his homeland - Mer (Murray Island) - and whose 1992 High Court verdict recognised the …

2018/79/1-10 Photograph, Dauar and Murray Islands May 1989, part of photographic and video footage of the Mabo v Queensland High Court hearing and subsequent events starting 1988
Dauar and Murray Islands, May 1989
1989
2018/79/1-24 Photograph, Justice Martin Moynihan opens Supreme Court of QLD hearings on Murray Island May 1989, part of photographic and video footage of the Mabo v Queensland High Court hearing and subsequent events starting 1988
Justice Martin Moynihan opens Supreme Court of Queensland hearings on Murray Island, May 1989
1989
2018/79/1-55 Photograph, The Mills Sisters, great supporters of the Mabo plaintiffs, Thursday Island September 1989, part of photographic and video footage of the Mabo v Queensland High Court hearing and subsequent events starting 1988
The Mills Sisters, great supporters of the Mabo plaintiffs, Thursday Island, September 1989
1989
2018/79/1-57 Photograph, Turtle & Dugong Hunting Great Barrier Reef September 1989, part of photographic and video footage of the Mabo v Queensland High Court hearing and subsequent events starting 1988
Turtle and Dugong Hunting, Great Barrier Reef, September 1989
1989
2018/79/1-33 Photograph, Mabo solicitor Greg McIntyre in Murray Island courthouse May 1989, part of photographic and video footage of the Mabo v Queensland High Court hearing and subsequent events starting 1988
Mabo solicitor Greg McIntyre in Murray Island courthouse, May 1989
1989
2018/79/1-54 Photograph, The Coming of the Light Memorial Murray Island September 1989, part of photographic and video footage of the Mabo v Queensland High Court hearing and subsequent events starting 1988
The Coming of the Light Memorial, Murray Island, September 1989
1989
2018/79/1-30 Photograph, Koiki Mabo, Greg McIntyre & Eddie Mabo Jnr, Interviewed Murray Island May 1989, part of photographic and video footage of the Mabo v Queensland High Court hearing and subsequent events starting 1988
Koiki Mabo, Greg McIntyre and Eddie Mabo Jnr, interviewed Murray Island, May 1989
1989
2018/79/1-48 Photograph, Preparing a Feast for the Supreme Court of QLD Murray Island 1989, part of photographic and video footage of the Mabo v Queensland High Court hearing and subsequent events starting 1988
Preparing a feast for the Supreme Court of Queensland, Murray Island, 1989
1989
2018/79/1-43 Photograph, Murray Island student drawing picture of Malo September 1989, part of photographic and video footage of the Mabo v Queensland High Court hearing and subsequent events starting 1988
Murray Island student drawing picture of Malo, September 1989
1989
2018/79/1-27 Photograph, Koiki Mabo Talking with court witnesses Murray Island 1989, part of photographic and video footage of the Mabo v Queensland High Court hearing and subsequent events starting 1988
Koiki Mabo talking with court witnesses, Murray Island, 1989
1989
2018/79/1-49 Photograph, Sergeant Gus Heather, Murray Island Police 1989, part of photographic and video footage of the Mabo v Queensland High Court hearing and subsequent events starting 1988
Sergeant Gus Heather, Murray Island Police, 1989
1989
2018/79/1-58 Photograph, We Won June 1992 (2), part of photographic and video footage of the Mabo v Queensland High Court hearing and subsequent events starting 1988
We Won, June 1992
1992
2018/79/1-50 Photograph, Solicitor Greg McIntyre, barrister Bryan Keon-Cohen & witness Meb Salee Snr Murray Island May 1989, part of photographic and video footage of the Mabo v Queensland High Court hearing and subsequent events starting 1988
Solicitor Greg McIntyre, barrister Bryan Keon-Cohen and witness Meb Salee Snr, Murray Island, May 1989
1989
2018/79/1-45 Photograph, Officer Thomas Mabo at Murray Island Police Station May 1989, part of photographic and video footage of the Mabo v Queensland High Court hearing and subsequent events starting 1988
Officer Thomas Mabo at Murray Island Police Station, May 1989
1989
2018/79/1-29 Photograph, Koiki Mabo with Dr Nonie Sharp an advisor to the plaintiffs at Las, Murray Island 1989 (2), part of photographic and video footage of the Mabo v Queensland High Court hearing and subsequent events starting 1988
Koiki Mabo with Dr Nonie Sharp an advisor to the plaintiffs at Las, Murray Island 1989
1989
2018/79/1-19 Photograph, Getting ready to dance Beizam the Shark Dance for Justice Moynihan May 1989, part of photographic and video footage of the Mabo v Queensland High Court hearing and subsequent events starting 1988
Getting ready to dance Beizam the Shark Dance for Justice Moynihan, May 1989
1989