When the “natives” talk back: a century on from Frank Hurley’s last Papua expedition

The Oceanic Art Society invites you to attend a lecture by Hamish McDonald.

Cooee Art Gallery | 17 Thurlow Street, Redfern, NSW, 2016

6:30 Registration & Drinks, 7:00 Lecture

Last June, journalist Hamish McDonald travelled by river from Kiunga into Lake Murray. It was almost the 100th anniversary of the 1922 expedition by photographer Frank Hurley and Australian Museum scientist Allan McCulloch aboard their ketch Eureka. On their return to Port Moresby, they were in great controversy after accusations of unethical collecting and use of force. Their collection of artefacts was impounded, and only returned some months later after some items were confiscated and returned to their owners. On his trip last year, Hamish went to a village where the Hurley-McCulloch looting of their longhouse is still a sore memory. They told him they want their “powerful objects” returned. Exactly how they are still discussing.

Hamish McDonald is an Australian foreign correspondent and editor who has been posted to many parts of Asia for The Sydney Morning Herald and the Far Eastern Economic Review. His visits into the Melanesian world started with a trip into West Papua in 1976 and continued from time to time since then. He is currently researching and writing a book on his encounters with the region.

Purchase Tickets

To purchase tickets via Credit Card, select your ticket type and quantity by using the ‘+’ symbol below then ‘Get Tickets’. A record of your ticket will be saved on completion of the purchase and a ticket sent via email. Please check your spam folders if a ticket is not received. Contact us to resend your ticket if required.