Dharawal fishes

Aboriginal cultural heritage

ANSTO’s two main campuses are located on the traditional lands of the Aboriginal nations of Dharawal at Lucas Heights and Kulin at Clayton. Furthermore, ANSTO’s extensive collaborations with universities and industry partners naturally connect with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations on the national scale. 

Therefore we also recognise these peoples as Australia’s first scientists, navigators, mathematicians and engineers. Their knowledge and skills are an integral part for the future growth of Australia and understanding its unique attributes.

Voices for Reconciliation 2025

Our Yabun Choir recorded a version of Goanna's Solid Rock for National Reconciliation Week. ANSTO staff and children from KU early childcare centre on our site took part.  Yabun is a Dharawal word for singing together.

Acknowledgment of Country

ANSTO recognises the Dharawal nation as the traditional owners of the land at the Lucas Heights campus and Boonwurrung people of the Kulin nation at the Australian Synchrotron campus at Clayton, Victoria.

Reconciliation Action Plan 2023 - 2025

Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) enables ANSTO to sustainably and strategically take meaningful action to advance reconciliation.

It is based around the core pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities.

2nd Innovate RAP

2nd Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan

Download PDF (7.2 MB)
Digital Map

Digital map

Explore our new resource, a digital map which highlights our research projects that support the First Nations people of Australia.

https://map.ansto.gov.au/

Early depictions of Indigenous people by Colonial artists.

(left) The Catch Joseph Lycett 1817 National Libray of Australia (Dharawal)

(right) Aboriginal camp on the banks of the Yarra, John Cotton c1845 State Library Victoria (Kulin)

The Catch, Joseph Lycett, 1817, National Library of Australia
,Aboriginal camp on the banks of theYarra, John Cotton c1845 State Library Victoria

ANSTO is aware of the significant cultural heritage in close proximity to the Lucas Heights and Clayton campuses.  Projects at both sites acknowledge the rich cultural tradition of local Indiegnous groups.

Dharawal mural
Dharawal mural which captures motifs from the rock art in proximity to ANSTO completed by students of Endeavour Sports High School in the Big Brother Big Sister program
2nd Dharawal mura
Dharawal mural which captures more motifs from the rock art in proximity to ANSTO completed by students of Endeavour Sports High School in the Big Brother Big Sister program.
Indigenous mural Clayton
Artist Simone Thomson depicted Kulin clan territories from a mapping perspective, and our natural formations serving as borders and shared lands at the Australian Synchrotron
2nd Indigenous mural Clayton.
The painting by artist Simone Thomson   at the Australian Synchrotron  represents the majestic Birrarung, river of mist and shadows known as the Yarra River.

Aboriginal sites knowledge-holder Bruce Howell has narrated a virtual tour of the Dharawal rock arts at ANSTO’s Lucas Heights Campus. 

Indigenous cultural research

Kimberley Rock Art

Kimberley Rock Art

Using a combination of dating technologies and analysis of very large data sets can change our understanding of Australian Aboriginal rock art.

Barrow Island

Earliest indigenous occupation

New evidence found of the earliest indigenous occupation of Australia's coast.

Arnhem Land

Dating Australian Aboriginal rock art

Development of new techniques makes it possible to date Australian Aboriginal rock art.

3D image if indigenous chert

See inside an ancient Australian Indigenous artefact

Seeing inside an ancient Australian Indigenous artefact non-invasively using neutron tomography.