City of Armadale - History House > Records

SPEAR - ABORIGINAL

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Overview

6-barbed spear bound with grass or twine at end of barbs. Black toughened wood

Historical information

Spear was purchased at an auction in Minnawarra House in the 1930's. Was part of a collection belonging to Warden Owen possibly made in the 1890;s. Warden William Lambden Owen (1861-1946). Arrived Albany 1887, resident engineer for the NW in Roebourne 1887. Warden of the Pilbarra Goldfields 1889-1890. Government Inspecting Engineer on the Midland Railway 1890. Warden of North Coolgardie Goldfields, Menzies 1896, Warden at Kalgoorlie 1904. Resident Magistrate Wellington District 1905. Purchased the property Brookside in the 1910s and renamed property Minnawarra. Was holiday home from early 1910s to his retirement, then he and wife lived at property until their deaths in 1940s. While at the property he wrote Cossak Gold as well as articles for the Royal Western Australian Historical Society journal Early Days. Spear purchased at auction by either Alfred or son Tom Brixey of Eighth Road Armadale

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-33-AK1986.11

Item type

Weapons

Material

Wood

Contextual information

Notes from Ross Chadwick Head of Anthropology Department, Western Australian Museum 17/9/2025 - "not sure about this one - the presence of the small band of woven fibre at the base of the barbs suggests a source from outside of WA and maybe NT."

Statement of significance

The spear, an Aboriginal artifact, holds significant historical and cultural value due to its association with both Western Australian colonial history and the early collection practices of European settlers. Purchased at an auction in the 1930s at Minnawarra House, the spear was part of a collection assembled by William Lambden Owen, a prominent civil engineer and public figure.

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Comparative significance criteria

Well provenanced

Last modified

Wednesday, 27 May, 2026

Completeness

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City of Armadale - History House