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.

Oysters

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This collection set shows a variety of oyster objects that link to the Australian Culinary podcast series by Lee Tran Lam. There used to be so many oysters in Sydney that the roads were literally paved with them. First Nations people feasted on the shellfish and preserved them in their middens — a millennia-old example of sustainability. This episode also covers migration (thanks to oyster saloons run by Greek Australians) and the mollusk's nature-restoring ways (a single hard-working oyster …

86/861D Book, 'Oyster Culture on the Georges River, New South Wales', Technical Education Series, No. 25, paper / textile, written by Theodore Cleveland Roughley, produced by the Technological Museum, Sydney, printed and published by William Applegate Gullick, Government Printer, Sydney, New South W
Book on oysters in Georges River by T C Roughley
1922
P416 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'Mollusca', framed, seashell / sepia / cardboard / glass / wood, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'Mollusca' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
85/1284-530 Glass plate negative, full plate, 'North Arm, Hacking River, National Park', Kerry and Co, Sydney, Australia, c. 1884-1917
'North Arm, Hacking River, National Park' by Kerry and Co from the Tyrrell Collection
c. 1884-1917
2000/118/1-15 Drawer and contents from collectors cabinet, right side, wood / paper / cotton wool / mineral specimens / plant specimens / shell, maker unknown, New South Wales, Australia, 1825-1835, collected by Lieutenant Hanbury Clements, New South Wales, Australia, 1830-1847
Drawer and contents from Collectors cabinet of Lieutenant Hanbury Clements
On display
10007-1 Didactic display, pearl buttons, pearl shell, maker unknown, Sydney, Australia, 1875-1885
Half an oyster shell demonstrating pearl shell button manufacture.
1875-1885
On display
Image unavailable
A pearl shell marked with button discs.
P417 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'Pearl Oyster and Pearl Mussel', framed, seashell / guanine / wax / cardboard / glass / wood / paper, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'Pearl Oyster and Pearl Mussel' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
On display
E5182-1/2 Pearl shell, part of a didactic display to show how pearl shell was made into pearl buttons, pearl shell / cardboard, made by The Pearlbutton Manufacturing Co Ltd, Foster Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1933
Pearl shell from didactic display
1875-1885
90/58-27 Doorhandle, moulded from oyster shell, bronze, designed by Douglas Annand, made by Firsthand Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1969-1972
Doorhandle designed by Douglas Annand
96/304/8 Bag, string bag (jerrk), made from 'burdaga' (Brachychiton diversifolius or Brachychiton paradoxum bark) string / single element string looping technique with loose and tight looping design / natural dyes, made by Rebecca Bowarr Baker, at Maningrida, Central Arnhemland, Northern Territory,
String bag (jerrk) by Rebecca Bowarr Baker, Maningrida
1995