Pacific Islander Collection

The Pacific Islander ethnographic object collections number approximately 2300 items, nearly half dating to the mid-late 19th Century. The countries from which we hold material are listed below in order of largest to smaller collections. A small proportion of the total collection remains without provenance and is the subject of on-going research.

We also hold extensive numbers of historic photographs with relevance to the cultures and histories of the region.

Map of the Pacific Islands showing early 20th century European trade routes. Burns Philp & Co Ltd (1925), Picturesque Travel (detail, ET84.174.4) © Sydney University Museums