The Senta Taft-Hendry Museum
The University was honoured to receive a significant gift towards its cultural collection from well-known collector, the late Mrs Senta Taft-Hendry.
Mrs Taft-Hendry’s collection comprises many rare and unique artefacts, including a woven straw and bone 'initiation hut' from Papua New Guinea, ancestor masks from the Solomon Islands, a Pukumani pole from the Tiwi islands, and painted bark from Arnhem Land in Australia's Northern Territory.
Mrs Taft-Hendry spent more than 50 years travelling to remote regions in pursuit of more pieces to add to her collection. In many locations she was the first white person and certainly the first white female to make contact with the local people.
The Senta Taft-Hendry Museum was opened in 2011 to house the collection and was named in Mrs Taft-Hendry’s honour, in recognition of her enduring support for the University, including with this significant cultural donation.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.