Secrets of Dawn 8-12 October

Secrets of Dawn is a project of Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation and includes a number of contemporary First Nations art works created by Coota Girls descendants.

Dawn Magazine, was created by the Aborigines Welfare Board (1940-1969) as “a magazine for the Aboriginal people of New South Wales”, presenting a manufactured picture of life for First Nations people. Through cleverly staged photos and articles, the magazine promoted the so-called “advantages” of assimilating into colonised White Australian to First Nations readers. 

Featuring content from Dawn Magazine alongside contemporary works by survivors and descendants of the Cootamundra Domestic Training Home for Aboriginal Girls – referenced over 100 times throughout the magazine – the exhibition exposes the tactics used under the Aborigines Protection Act (1909-1969) to progress the agenda of assimilation. 

Created and Directed by Meagan Gerrard (Winner of the ACHAA Award for Excellence by an Aboriginal Curator) and Alex McWhirter from Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation, along with Co-Curator Dennis Golding, this exhibition is…