At Link-Up (Qld)’s recent Apology Anniversary event, Dr. Rose Barrowcliffe shared a deeply personal and powerful speech that underscored the importance of archival access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. As a Butchulla woman and researcher, Dr. Barrowcliffe’s work is shaped by her own family’s experience of the Stolen Generations. Her mother, removed from her family as a child and placed in a Catholic orphanage before being adopted by a white family, was one of nine siblings – all separated and raised away from their parents. Though she believes her mother’s story may not be among the most traumatic, the lifelong consequences of that removal remain significant.
Above: Dr Rose Barrowcliffe at Link-Up (Qld)’s 2025 National Apology Anniversary event in Brisbane.
Dr. Barrowcliffe’s passion for archives stems from this personal history. She examines the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in archival collections, advocating for improved access so that individuals can reclaim their histories. She recalled her own experience of first stepping into an archive in 2018 and discovering records that held profound significance for her people. Many of these records had never been read or fully understood by non-Indigenous archivists, yet they contained vital information about the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
One particularly striking example she shared was from her time working with Queensland State Archives. While reviewing a letter book from the Commissioner of Lands in the mid-1800s, she came across a brief mention of the murder of an Aboriginal man who had consumed arsenic-laced flour. There was no acknowledgement of wrongdoing – just a passing mention in bureaucratic language. This discovery was a stark reminder of how colonial violence was recorded in a manner that rendered Indigenous lives invisible within official histories.
Dr. Barrowcliffe emphasised the importance of a relational way of viewing archival records. As a Butchulla woman, she could recognise names, places, and contexts that non-Indigenous archivists could not. This perspective is crucial in understanding the depth of historical records and ensuring they serve the communities they document. Despite the vital work of First Nations archivists and history teams, she highlighted that many barriers still exist in accessing these records, making it difficult for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to reconnect with their families and histories.
While the challenges remain, Dr. Barrowcliffe also spoke about moments of hope and connection. She described the unique experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people walking into a room and instantly finding links to kin. A simple question – “Who’s your mob?” – can uncover shared ancestry and histories. This was something her mother had to rebuild after being separated
from her family, a journey made possible through the support of Link-Up (Qld) and dedicated archival teams.
Dr. Barrowcliffe’s reflections made one thing clear – archives hold the missing pieces of family histories, cultural identities, and untold truths. They are more than piles of documents; they carry the weight of lived experiences and the resilience of generations. Her speech was a reminder that for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the search for truth is ongoing, and access to these histories is not a privilege but a right.
Above: Dr Rose Barrowcliffe at Link-Up (Qld)’s 2025 National Apology Anniversary event in Brisbane.
Published April 2025.
