A total of 81 artefacts originating from the Barraba Region, near Tamworth, were welcomed home with a traditional smoking ceremony on Thursday.
The collection of artefacts returned to Country includes ceremonial pieces, axe heads, and grinding stones
Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council (TLALC) Chair Daisy Cutmore said the repatriation had been warmly welcomed by the local Aboriginal community.
"I think it's wonderful that our ancient artefacts are returned to us on our lands," she said.
"On behalf of the Tamworth and Barraba communities, TLALC is honoured to welcome this collection home, which we will treasure for our future generations."
At the ceremony, Deputy Chairperson of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSW ALC) Charles Lynch said the artefacts were very nearly sold from the private collections in the 90s.
Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council Chair Daisy Cutmore
"They were going to be auctioned off to the highest bidders some twenty-four, twenty-five years ago and a lot of this collection would have went overseas," he said.
"There is no value. This collection’s priceless to Aboriginal people."
Ms Cutmore agreed, saying it would have been an incalculable loss of significant First Nations heritage, especially for the community's younger people.
"Some of the artefacts are so sacred they've now been hidden away, while others are ready to be used to teach the next generations."
The items were bought by the NSW ALC and have spent 20 years with the Armidale Region Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place.
Chair of the Cultural Centre Rose Lovelock said caretaking the artefact collection had been an incredible experience.
Rose Lovelock and Daisy Cutmore at the ceremony. Source: Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Counci
"Our Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping place has been honored to be able to care for these priceless artefacts, and we've done our utmost to protect and respect them while they resided with us," she said.
"It gives me, the ACCKP Board and our staff the greatest pleasure to know they're going home safe and intact..."
Consultations will decide where the artefacts are held and how they're cared for into the future.
"TLALC will certainly consult with the Barraba community in relation to how they want them stored or kept safe," Ms Cutmore said.
"It's a discussion between the TLALC and the Barraba community in determining what local areas these artefacts came from and their specific markings or things that identify them as being from Barraba... really culturally specific to that area."
