Best place to buy authentic aboriginal stuff?

I'm not one to buy the many cheezy souvenirs in different countries,
but I've always wanted a boomerang.

I've seen them for sale everywhere, in tourist souvenir shops and
such, but I'd rather buy it from a more "authentic" aboriginal place
-any suggestions to where I should go? And possibly see and learn more
about the aboriginal culture as well.

I'm currently in 1770/Agnes water and will be travelling towards
Rockhampton. From there I'll be taking a side-trip into Longreach and
Barcaldine, go back to Rockhampton, then continue my trip along the
east coast till I get to Cairns, then probably take a flight down to
Adelaide (possibly to Melbourne instwad if I don't have the time or
find the money worth it), Canberram then ending at Sydney.

Which of those places would be the best to get this sort of thing?


Hallvard

I am afraid that any boomerang you buy will be designed and built for the
tourist trade. Those few aboriginals that don't hunt in the supermarket use
..243 calibres.

My personal souvenir recommendation is a kangaroo skin. They're only $30 -
$50, totally authentic, and it will be a real novelty back home (how many
Norwegian homes have a kangaroo skin above the fireplace?).

I still have no idea why you would want to go to Adelaide, other than the
coast drive to Melbourne, and as you don't have a car that's not on.

Peter Webb

PS Kangaroo scrotum purses are readily available and quite cheap. Maybe a
girlfriend back home would like one?


"Hallvard Tangeraas" wrote in message
om...
I'm not one to buy the many cheezy souvenirs in different countries,
but I've always wanted a boomerang.

I've seen them for sale everywhere, in tourist souvenir shops and
such, but I'd rather buy it from a more "authentic" aboriginal place
-any suggestions to where I should go? And possibly see and learn more
about the aboriginal culture as well.

I'm currently in 1770/Agnes water and will be travelling towards
Rockhampton. From there I'll be taking a side-trip into Longreach and
Barcaldine, go back to Rockhampton, then continue my trip along the
east coast till I get to Cairns, then probably take a flight down to
Adelaide (possibly to Melbourne instwad if I don't have the time or
find the money worth it), Canberram then ending at Sydney.

Which of those places would be the best to get this sort of thing?


Hallvard

"Hallvard Tangeraas" wrote in message
om...
I'm not one to buy the many cheezy souvenirs in different countries,
but I've always wanted a boomerang.

I've seen them for sale everywhere, in tourist souvenir shops and
such, but I'd rather buy it from a more "authentic" aboriginal place
-any suggestions to where I should go? And possibly see and learn more
about the aboriginal culture as well.

I'm currently in 1770/Agnes water and will be travelling towards
Rockhampton. From there I'll be taking a side-trip into Longreach and
Barcaldine, go back to Rockhampton, then continue my trip along the
east coast till I get to Cairns, then probably take a flight down to
Adelaide (possibly to Melbourne instwad if I don't have the time or
find the money worth it), Canberram then ending at Sydney.

Which of those places would be the best to get this sort of thing?

google
http://www.google.com.au/

aboriginal Cultural Centre
regional development board
eg
qld
http://www.tjapukai.com.au
http://www.brambuk.com.au/events.html

adelaide
http://www.tandanya.com.au/index3.html

Of course all items are 'similar to as seen on TV' authenticity
but those place will be more authentic than the hotel gift-shop.

That really was the description on an item ;-)

Ask an aboriginal when you see one
"Hallvard Tangeraas" wrote in message
om...
I'm not one to buy the many cheezy souvenirs in different countries,
but I've always wanted a boomerang.

I've seen them for sale everywhere, in tourist souvenir shops and
such, but I'd rather buy it from a more "authentic" aboriginal place
-any suggestions to where I should go? And possibly see and learn more
about the aboriginal culture as well.

I'm currently in 1770/Agnes water and will be travelling towards
Rockhampton. From there I'll be taking a side-trip into Longreach and
Barcaldine, go back to Rockhampton, then continue my trip along the
east coast till I get to Cairns, then probably take a flight down to
Adelaide (possibly to Melbourne instwad if I don't have the time or
find the money worth it), Canberram then ending at Sydney.

Which of those places would be the best to get this sort of thing?


Hallvard

"Peter Webb" wrote in message
u...
I am afraid that any boomerang you buy will be designed and built for the
tourist trade. Those few aboriginals that don't hunt in the supermarket
use
.243 calibres.

My personal souvenir recommendation is a kangaroo skin. They're only $30 -
$50, totally authentic, and it will be a real novelty back home (how many
Norwegian homes have a kangaroo skin above the fireplace?).

I still have no idea why you would want to go to Adelaide, other than the
coast drive to Melbourne, and as you don't have a car that's not on.


http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au/cms/home/home.cfm
http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/index.asp

On 31 Jan 2004 01:21:25 -0800, (Hallvard
Tangeraas) wrote:

I'm not one to buy the many cheezy souvenirs in different countries,
but I've always wanted a boomerang.

I'm currently in 1770/Agnes water and will be travelling towards
Rockhampton. From there I'll be taking a side-trip into Longreach and
Barcaldine, go back to Rockhampton, then continue my trip along the
east coast till I get to Cairns, then probably take a flight down to
Adelaide (possibly to Melbourne instwad if I don't have the time or
find the money worth it), Canberram then ending at Sydney.

Which of those places would be the best to get this sort of thing?

Hallvard,

There is a co-operative store for Aboriginal artists in Darling
Harbour in Sydney, if you don't want to be carrying your purchase
around. The staff in there are entirely Aboriginal and really nice. I
drop in there to buy boomerangs every time I go overseas, as I have
discovered that they are always well recieved as gifts among my
European friends. The name of the store is Gavala:
http://www.gavala.com.au

Unfortunately they are redesigning their website, and there is very
little information on it at the moment, but they have an email address
for enquiries.

The others are right in that you probably aren't going to get an
"authentic" boomerang, but there at least you will have the choice
between a decorative one and one that will return.

Geodyne

"Peter Webb" wrote in message
u...
I am afraid that any boomerang you buy will be designed and built for the
tourist trade. Those few aboriginals that don't hunt in the supermarket
use
.243 calibres.

Obviously they are made for sale, but you can easily get ones made to
traditional designs using traditional methods. However, not all of the
hunting boomerangs are designed to come back, so it can be a bit embarassing
when you attempt to show off by throwing it.

Another popular item, although rather bulky, is the didgeridoos (wind
instrument).

Smaller traditional design items are the music sticks and woomeras -
throwing sticks to increase the range of spears.

"Bull Roarers" are decorated pieces of wood attached to a cord and swung to
make a humming noise. Variants of this design can be found in traditional
cultures around the world.

I don't personally like them much, but many people like the aboriginal dot
paintings. They are distinctively indigenous and don't take up much space.
There can be expensive in galleries, but it is possible to get them from
local artists at a reasonable price.

Mark

Boomerangs as we know them - the ones that are roughly 90 degrees and can
come back if you know how to throw 'em - are strictly toys. There are
dozens of different designs, mostly crafted to cripple or kill the prey
(break legs, down birds, etc.) - there are a couple good thin books
outlining what tribes used what kinds for what purpose.


in article , Ripley at
wrote on 1/31/04 12:45 PM:

Ask an aboriginal when you see one
"Hallvard Tangeraas" wrote in message
om...
I'm not one to buy the many cheezy souvenirs in different countries,
but I've always wanted a boomerang.

I've seen them for sale everywhere, in tourist souvenir shops and
such, but I'd rather buy it from a more "authentic" aboriginal place
-any suggestions to where I should go? And possibly see and learn more
about the aboriginal culture as well.

I'm currently in 1770/Agnes water and will be travelling towards
Rockhampton. From there I'll be taking a side-trip into Longreach and
Barcaldine, go back to Rockhampton, then continue my trip along the
east coast till I get to Cairns, then probably take a flight down to
Adelaide (possibly to Melbourne instwad if I don't have the time or
find the money worth it), Canberram then ending at Sydney.

Which of those places would be the best to get this sort of thing?


Hallvard

"Peter Webb" wrote in message . au...

I am afraid that any boomerang you buy will be designed and built for the
tourist trade. Those few aboriginals that don't hunt in the supermarket use
.243 calibres.

Hehe...
so you're saying that I just won't be able to get anything but "made
for tourists" sort of boomerangs?


My personal souvenir recommendation is a kangaroo skin. They're only $30 -
$50, totally authentic, and it will be a real novelty back home (how many
Norwegian homes have a kangaroo skin above the fireplace?).

Hey, that's a cool idea!
I'll look into that.


I still have no idea why you would want to go to Adelaide, other than the
coast drive to Melbourne, and as you don't have a car that's not on.

Well, I really don't know which places are good and which aren't, but
want to explore this wonderful country as much as I can. But you're
saying that Adelaide really isn't worth a visit?

I'm actually considering flying directly from Cairns to Melbourne
instead as time is running out (I've only got 4 weeks left) depending
on how much time I spend in the outback (Longreach and Barcaldine)
etc.
I feel I need about a week or thereabouts back in Sydney before I move
on, just to wind down and prepare for yet another new country (New
Zealand).


PS Kangaroo scrotum purses are readily available and quite cheap. Maybe a
girlfriend back home would like one?

Hehe.... I don't know if my girlfriend is too keen on carrying a
scrotum around, being from a kangaroo or not ;-)


Hallvard

"Mark Little" wrote in message ...

"Peter Webb" wrote in message
u...
I am afraid that any boomerang you buy will be designed and built for the
tourist trade. Those few aboriginals that don't hunt in the supermarket
use
.243 calibres.

Obviously they are made for sale, but you can easily get ones made to
traditional designs using traditional methods. However, not all of the
hunting boomerangs are designed to come back, so it can be a bit embarassing
when you attempt to show off by throwing it.

So the ones that come back are more of a novelty, touristy thing? The
real ones weren't actually made to do that?
That's OK. I could buy one "authentic" one to play around with, and
one "touristy" fancy one to hang on my wall back home.

So where do I get to buy an "authentic" one?


Another popular item, although rather bulky, is the didgeridoos (wind
instrument).

Yeah, these are pretty cool, though as you say bulky -too bulky for me
to carry around as I'm visiting a bunch of other countries as well.
I actually came across a backpacker who had made her own from a piece
of wood, by going to a course.


Smaller traditional design items are the music sticks and woomeras -
throwing sticks to increase the range of spears.

I'll have a look to see if I find those.


"Bull Roarers" are decorated pieces of wood attached to a cord and swung to
make a humming noise. Variants of this design can be found in traditional
cultures around the world.

So different from the didgeridoo? I always thought it was just another
name for the same thing.


I don't personally like them much, but many people like the aboriginal dot
paintings. They are distinctively indigenous and don't take up much space.
There can be expensive in galleries, but it is possible to get them from
local artists at a reasonable price.

I think they're a bit strange as well, but it would be unique, so if I
find one that isn't too expensive but authentic I might get one or
two.

But, where? Where do I go to buy all of this if I want the real,
authentic stuff. I'll check out the places mentioned elsewhere in this
thread, but if you say that even the authentic, aboriginal stores
don't sell "real" boomerangs I'd like to know if there are other
places...



Hallvard