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THE BEGINNING: FIRST NATIONS HISTORY
Despite the extreme disruption, First Nations people continued to access their traditional lands and maintain their cultural identity as best they could. They incorporated new materials into their cultural repertoire, showing great ingenuity, flexibility and resilience.
Wesley Place are grateful to the Traditional Owners & Custodians for endorsing the inclusion of this incredible artefact in the Wesley Place Display.
Flaked glass scraper (1855-1875)
Artefact ID: VAHR7822-4256
This rare glass
scraper is listed on the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register. It was
expertly crafted using flaking techniques originally perfected for stone
tools. It illustrates the ingenuity of Aboriginal people in their
re-use of discarded bottle glass to create highly useful tools with very
sharp edges. Although it may have been used as a tool, it is also
possible this beautifully sculpted object was valued as a keepsake by
one of Jones Lane’s inhabitants.