Episode Details

The South Australian Museum is undertaking a landmark, multi-year restoration of its vast Melanesian artefact collection—2,500 culturally vital pieces—moving them off-site to prevent irreversible decay from decades of display. While temporary ticketed exhibitions will fill the gallery space, museum director Samantha Hamilton insists this is a short-term measure, with plans to return the collection to its original home. Community members, including long-time residents like Wasodawa Mathews, feel the emotional weight of the artefacts’ temporary removal, yet support the preservation effort. The museum is digitizing the collection in 3D and hosting pop-up exhibits, all while consulting Pacific Island communities to ensure broader cultural representation. With expert conservators handling every step, the goal is clear: safeguard these treasures for future generations so they can be experienced, studied, and cherished for decades to come.

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