Dr Robert (Bob) Edwards AO 1930-2023

Bob has made a remarkable contribution to the cultural sector in Australia. Edwards grew up in Adelaide, studied at Monash University and worked as an anthropologist in Arnhem Land during the 1950s and 1960s. He was appointed Curator of Anthropology at the South Australian Museum in 1965 and resigned in February 1973. From 1973 to 1975 he was the deputy Principal of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies; for the next five years he was the Founding Director of the Aboriginal Arts Board of the Australia Council.

This collection relates to the period Edwards was at the South Australian Museum. It reflects his wide research interests including canoe trees, Aboriginal rock art, engravings and sacred sites in north-west South Australia and Central Australia and in Arnhem land, (more) and his involvement in ANZAAS.