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Our Story
The Goondee Aboriginal Keeping Place & Museum
The Goondee Aboriginal Keeping Place & Museum was founded by respected Elders, Roy and June Barker to preserve the surrounding local Aboriginal Languages, Culture and Sovereignty for future generations; and to truthfully share and raise awareness of the diverse history of Aboriginal peoples with others.
The Goondee was established in the year 2000 and is built on Yuwaalaraay/Euahlayi Country. Roy and June received numerous awards, contributed to countless projects within the local and wider communities, and showcased Aboriginal culture and their knowledge through many exhibitions and collaborations.
We miss Roy and June very much and hold their generosity and kindness in all that we do at the Goondee Aboriginal Keeping Place & Museum.
Roy and June Barker
Roy Barker Snr, a proud Murrawarri and Wiradjuri man was born in 1928 on the banks of the Barwon River at the old Brewarrina Mission in North-West New South Wales on Ngemba Country.
June Barker was born on Cumerangunja Mission in 1935. June's mother was Yorta Yorta and her father was of the southern Wiradjuri people from Warangesda Aboriginal Mission. Her grandfather, William Ferguson was a well-known and prominent Indigenous activist and one of the first Indigenous politicians.
After involvement in the Brewarrina Aboriginal Museum, Roy and June created a Keeping Place in a shed on their property to store and protect their own objects and artefacts. From here the vision grew and they generously shared their knowledge of Aboriginal history and culture with locals, visitors, school groups, university classes, backpackers, and those tracing family histories.
Their legacy involves being passionate activists and fighters of Indigenous rights and educating all those interested in the Aboriginal culture and history at Lightning Ridge and beyond.