Great Southern Shire Presidents aim to bolster the role of community-led research in guiding the future of the Carrolup artworks.
Shire Presidents from Katanning, Kojonup and Gnowangerup joined representatives from the John Curtin Gallery for a guided tour and research discussion centred on the Carrolup artworks currently on display as part of the Once Known exhibition.
Held at 139 St Georges Terrace – Old Perth Boys’ School – Once Known showcases reproductions of the fragile artworks created by Aboriginal children forcibly taken from their families and detained at the Carrolup Native Settlement in the 1940s.
The meeting marks an important step in building ongoing partnerships that support community-centred research, cultural stewardship and the continued recognition of the Carrolup artworks’ enduring significance.
Borden local and PhD candidate, Curtin University, Phoebe Milne whose research explores the cultural, historical and emotional significance of the Carrolup artworks, said the opportunity to speak with the Shire Presidents was an important step in strengthening regional dialogue around the works and their future.
“My PhD looks at the role of respectful, community-led research in shaping the future of the Carrolup artworks,” she said.
“This was an opportunity to consider the Carrolup works not only as historical artefacts, but as living histories that continue to hold deep meaning for communities across the Great Southern.”
Central to the meeting was the identification of opportunities to expand awareness of this work more broadly across the Great Southern region and their respective
communities.
The visit has not only strengthened collaboration between local government leaders, researchers and cultural institutions, but has also paved the way for a shared understanding of Carrolup as history held by communities, not solely by institutions.
Exhibition Details:
Where: 139 St Georges Terrace, Perth (Old Perth Boys’ School)
When: 4 Apr 2025 – 6 Mar 2026, 11am – 4pm: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays – Closed Wednesdays and Weekends
Feature Image: Shire Presidents visit Once Known at 139 St Georges Terrace. Image courtesy Phoebe Milne.
