Treasured First Nations artwork presented to the University of Melbourne

A significant drawing by a celebrated First Nations Australian artist of the 19th century is set to make its way to the University of Melbourne.

The piece, Before the fight – a war dance by Tommy McRae (c. 1830-1901), will be added the university’s collection of more than 18,000 works thanks to a grant provided by the National Cultural Heritage Account.

McRae’s drawing will be included in the exhibition marking the relaunch of Potter Museum of Art at the University of Melbourne in early 2025.

McRae was a Kwat Kwat man from north-eastern Victoria.

The artwork depicts warriors preparing to engage in a form of dispute resolution, providing an intimate window into the lives of First Peoples more than a century ago and celebrating their practising of culture.

The National Cultural Heritage Account provides up to $500,000 each year to assist Australian cultural organisations, such as public galleries, libraries, archives and museums, to acquire significant cultural heritage objects they could not otherwise afford.