65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art

65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art celebrated the brilliance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art while confronting the dark heart of Australia’s colonial history and proclaimed the importance of Indigenous knowledge and agency. The exhibition featured more than 400 works, including rarely-seen artworks and cultural objects from the University of Melbourne’s collections, 194 important loans from 78 private and public lenders and six new commissions.

Complementing the exhibition were important educational resources for primary, secondary as well as tertiary students, designed to build a deeper understanding of Indigenous art, history and culture. These educational resources continue to be available. They were developed in partnership with the University of Melbourne’s signature Ngarrngga Project, which builds innovative curriculum resources in collaboration with Indigenous Knowledge Experts.

Curated by Associate Provost and Distinguished Professor Marcia Langton AO, Senior Curator Judith Ryan AM, and Associate Curator Shanysa McConville – in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and custodians of art traditions – the exhibition explored the belated recognition of Indigenous art and its rise to prominence globally.

The Art of Central and Western Desert

Join curator Shanysa McConville in the Art of Central and Western Desert gallery

The Art of Arnhem Land

Enter the Art of Arnhem Land gallery with curator Judith Ryan

Behind the exhibition design

Hear from exhibition designer Nguyen Le

Publication

65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art

Edited by Distinguished Associate Provost Professor Marcia Langton AO and Senior Curator Judith Ryan AM, the book is a scholarly work offering new insights into the first art of this country. Featuring writing by twenty-five leading thinkers across generations and disciplines, the publication celebrates Indigenous Australian art across time, media and language groups.

Published by the University of Melbourne with Thames and Hudson.

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Dive deeper

Exhibition Rooms

Deep dive into each of the rooms of the exhibition, including interviews with artists and extended wall labels.

Commissions

Read about the works commissioned exclusively for the exhibition

Our learning programs

Student Tours

Deep dive into 65,000 Years with a curriculum-aligned exhibition tour guided by experienced facilitators, catering to school Grades 3–12.

65,000 Years Teacher PD

Learn how to engage students more deeply with the themes of the exhibition through these professional development opportunities for educators.

65,000 Years Learning Resources

Engage with the exhibition through high-quality, indigenous-led curriculum resources created by Ngarrngga.

Access

Museum Access Guide

Plan your visit to the Potter with wheelchair access, hearing assistance, and friendly staff ready to help.

Audio Described Guide

An audio described guide of exhibition highlights designed for visitors who are blind or have low vision.

Wellbeing and cultural awareness resources

Information for people who may experience distress due to the themes in the artworks and the broader exhibition.

Supporters

Principal Supporters

Peter McMullin AM and Ruth McMullin

Lead Supporters

Peter Jopling AM KC | The Erica Foundation | Creative Australia | Creative Victoria

Foundational Supporters

Andy and Rainie Zhang | The Naomi Milgrom Foundation

Supporters

Judith and Leon Gorr | Rebecca Hossack | John and Susan Wardle | Her Honour Irene Lawson | Brendan Kissane KC

Publication Partner

The Gordon Darling Foundation

Education Partner

Ngarrngga