Photo credit- Louis Lim

Shields: Design and functionality showcases the history, artistic intricacies and regional variations of more than 130 shields traditionally used by Aboriginal people for demonstrations, conflict resolution and symbolic warfare.
The exhibition also includes historical photographs of the people and places connected to the shields, with images sourced from the Anthropology Museum, Fryer Library, The Royal Collection in the UK, Peabody Museum in the USA, National Archives of Australia, Queensland Museum and private collections.
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“Early colonial collectors of shields and other artefacts were fascinated by their designs and functionality. They saw them as tools of war and attractive souvenirs but didn't understand their complex relationship and importance in Aboriginal society. Shields were not only physically protective but also spiritually protective and were a sign of tribal affiliation... Simply put, the shield had meanings for its owner that went far and beyond a tool for defence.” Bill Evans, 2023
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Throughout Australia shield types and designs vary greatly, with some styles reproduced across extensive areas, while others may only be found in specific localities. The unique variations within regions and the intermingling of styles and designs deserve further attention and appreciation.
This exhibition features over 130 Australian shields from the collection of the Anthropology Museum, a small number of shields on loan from private collections and works by contemporary Indigenous artists that have been influenced by traditional shield designs.
A small proportion of these shields have entered the Museum collection with detailed information about their origins. However, the vast majority were collected or donated with very little, or at times no information attached. Where that is the case, further information can be found by comparison with appearance in historical photographs, in written sources and shields in other museum collections. It is this research that provides some clues as to where those with no or minimal information attached may have come from.
This exhibition provides an opportunity to bring together what we know about regional style variations and discuss areas for further research.
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Featured in the exhibition and on the invitation are a pair of shields from Fassifern Valley donated to the Museum in 1950 with no provenance information recorded, other than the name of the donor. A loose description of “probably eastern Queensland” was recorded in the museum catalogue. Recent comparative analysis looked at similar shields held in other collections and in historical photographs, combined with the family history of the man who donated them.
This research revealed that the shields were most likely collected from the Fassifern Valley area, south-west of Brisbane, some 125 years ago.
Image: maker unrecorded | Shield, Fassifern Valley | Donated by Dr Louis Wienholt 1950 | UQ Anthropology Museum collection

Shield Design and Functionality is open February 23 - September 4 2026.
anthropologymuseum.uq.edu.au
anthmuseum@uq.edu.au
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Open Monday to Friday 11am to 3pm