The Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney will tomorrow launch a powerful new exhibition, Chains of Empire, coinciding with the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. 

The exhibition explores Australia's historical connections to the Atlantic slave trade and examines the enduring impact of British slavery on the nation's development.

Developed in collaboration with leading historians from The University of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University, the University of Melbourne, and UNSW, and with guidance from First Nations communities, Chains of Empire reveals the complex legacies of British slavery across Australia. 

"The wealth and ideas that flowed from the Atlantic slave trade significantly shaped early Australian settlements."

Professor Jane Lydon, Wesfarmers Chair of Australian History, UWA

The exhibition poses critical questions, such as whether slavery ever existed in Australia.

Professor Jane Lydon, Wesfarmers Chair of Australian History at UWA, emphasised the importance of confronting this often-overlooked aspect of Australia's past. 

“This exhibition challenges us to reconsider the foundations of our society because while many Australians are aware of the convict system, few recognise the profound impact that British slavery had on the development of our colonies,” Professor Lydon said.

“The wealth and ideas that flowed from the Atlantic slave trade significantly shaped early Australian settlements."

The exhibition also highlights the real stories of the trials and suffering endured by indentured workers and First Nations peoples, drawing attention to the ongoing effects of these historical injustices. 

Professor Zoe Laidlaw from the University of Melbourne said examining these histories could help people better understand the deep-seated inequalities that continued to affect communities across Australia today.

“The exhibition is an opportunity to acknowledge the enduring scars left by these practices and to engage in meaningful conversations about our shared history,” Professor Laidlaw said.

Chains of Empire is supported by an Australian Research Council Discovery Project, ‘Western Australian Legacies of British Slavery’, and the Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities Project, ‘Time Layered Cultural Map of Australia: Advanced Techniques and Big Data’.

The exhibition will run at the Australian National Maritime Museum until 14 February 2025 and visitors are advised that it may be distressing for some, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as it includes references to, and images of, ancestors who are deceased.

For more details see here.