The State Library of NSW has opened its Living Language: Country, Culture, Community exhibition featuring a 150-year-old notebook documenting the Awabakal Aboriginal language and a Bible in the same tongue.
Leader of the Indigenous Engagement Branch for the State Library, Damien Webb said having American linguist Horatio Hale’s notebook back on Country was extraordinary.”
Mr Webb said Mr Hale had visited Australia from 1839-1840 and chronicled the work of missionary Reverend Lancelot Threlkeld who worked with Beerabahn (Biraban) to translate the Bible into the local Awabakal language.
“Hale’s notebook and Threlkeld’s Bible are coming together,” Mr Webb said.
“We’re thrilled that the Western University in Canada has agreed to leave the Hale notebook here for an extended period for the Library to digitise and establish access protocols with Aboriginal stakeholders,” he said.
State Librarian, John Vallance said another major international loan for the exhibition would be First Fleet Officer William Dawe’s notebooks (1788-1791) which are the earliest attempt to transcribe and understand the Sydney coastal language.
“The notebooks are coming back to Sydney (from the University of London) for only the second time.” Dr Vallance said.
“This is a watershed moment for the State Library of NSW and I’m proud that we are leading the charge coming to terms with complex questions around first contact, language revival and renewal.”
Dr Vallance said Living Language was a free exhibition, currently open to May 2020.
