Amir Moghadam, University Conservator
In February 2025, we completed the rehousing, reviewing, and updating the registration of a collection of artefacts from the Haslam collection.
Who Was Percy Haslam?
Born and raised in Newcastle, Percy Haslam (1912-1987) was a journalist, scholar and advocate for Newcastle and Hunter region’s indigenous peoples, cultures and languages.
What’s In The Collection?
According to accompanying documentation, the Collection comprises 15 indigenous artefacts from the Awabakal tribe, mainly from the western side of Lake Macquarie, except the ones marked with “W” representing the (Wonarua). In addition to the artefacts, the Collection contains photographs, written studies of language, history, culture, and personal reflections and memoirs from decades of Haslam’s work.
When Did They Arrive?
Three years after the establishment of the University Archives in the Auchmuty Library in 1975, along with Haslam’s papers, these artefacts were donated to the University Archives in April 1978 following his six-month term as a Convocation Visiting Scholar with the English Department researching Aboriginal dreaming, history, culture, and language. He came to the University of Newcastle after retiring from the Newcastle Herald, where he had worked for forty-four years as its industrial and political roundsman and associate editor.
Academic Recognition
In May 1984, in recognition of his work in Indigenous culture and language, he received an Honorary degree of Master of Arts, honoris causa from the University of Newcastle. Percy Haslam passed away three years later, in September of 1987.
Haslam Collection is Foundation of Research Collections
The Haslam Collection forms the foundation of the University of Newcastle’s Aboriginal research collections. Since Percy’s death, the Collection has been of interest to people researching the region’s indigenous culture.
Acknowledgements
Davina Pellatt, Amir Moghadam and Gionni Di Gravio  collaborated in this project. This work completed the task that started by our indigenous colleague, Kua Swan prior to his leaving.
Further Reading
For further reading about the collection and Haslam’s life please see:
Background on Percy Haslam’s life and work by John Maynard
https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p268021/pdf/ch041.pdf
A job well done. Percy made a very positive contribution to both the Aboriginal community and the wider Newcastle community, not only through his work in revitalisation of Awabakal Language, documenting Aboriginal history, involvement in Aboriginal Sites Protection and the collection of Aboriginal cultural property, but also through using his political allies to help facilitate the navigation of Goories through the many challenges that the Newcastle-Lake Macquarie-Central Coast and Lower Hunter Aboriginal communities were facing in the 1970-1987 period, when pitted most normally against largely non-supportive bureaucracies and community.