Berndt Museum

The Berndt Museum acknowledges the Whadjuk Noongar people as the traditional owners of the land on which it is situated. The Whadjuk Noongar people remain the spiritual and cultural custodians of their land, and continue to practice their values, languages, beliefs and knowledge.

In 2020 the Museum joined the University’s Indigenous Portfolio, recognising the need for Indigenous collections to be cared for by Indigenous people and adhere to cultural protocols. We recognise that for Indigenous people, objects and works of art can be living representations that hold cultural and spiritual significance.

The Museum cares for extensive collections of material culture and art, along with archives containing photographs, sound and film recordings, and a reference library. While the primary focus of the collection relates to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, it also extends globally to Melanesia and Southeast Asia, spanning regions like China, India, Japan, and Egypt.