30th anniversary of the historic Mabo decision

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The 3 June 2022 marks the 30th Anniversary of the historic Mabo decision, a 1992 legal case that marked the first formal recognition of Indigenous land rights in Australia. Mabo and others v Queensland (No 2) (1992) – more commonly known as 'Mabo', acknowledged  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique connection with the land, as the High Court of Australia overturned the legal doctrine of terra nullius (‘land belonging to nothing, no one’) which implied that no-one held ownership of the land until the arrival of European settlers.

The Mabo decision was named after land rights activist Koiki 'Eddie' Mabo, a Meriam man from the Torres Strait who challenged the Australian legal system and fought for recognition of the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional owners of their land. Eddie Mabo and four other Meriam people began legal action in the High Court of Australia in 1982, and continued their struggle for recognition for 10 long years. Tragically, Eddie Mabo passed away five months before the High Court’s decision.

Eddie Mabo's momentous achievement is celebrated each year as Mabo Day, 3 June as part of National Reconciliation Week.

State Library of Queensland holds several collections relating to the Mabo decision and the Mabo family, including:

• OM95-26 Mabo Cutting Books - these books contain newspaper clippings relating to the Mabo case between November 1990 and October 1994
• 29122 Album of Photographs Relating to the Mabo Case on Mer Island 1989 - a photographic account of the proceedings of the Mabo case on Mer (Murray Island)
• 6837 Justice Moynihan - Determination re Mabo Case Papers 27 Feb 1986 - three bound volumes regarding the determination of a reference from the High Court of Australia of the factual issues raised in the action by Eddie Mabo and others, prepared by Justice Moynihan.
• 32825 Mabo family collection - Includes a collection of shirts worn by and commemorating Eddie Mabo, many made by his wife Dr. Bonita Mabo AO for the extended family. Other significant items include the annotated Mabo family copy of Margaret Lawrie's Myths and legends of the Torres Strait.

A selection of items from these collections are currently on display in the Talbot Family Treasures Wall on Level 4 outside the entrance to the John Oxley Library.

The exhibition Legacy: reflections on Mabo will be open in the Philip Bacon Heritage Gallery on Level 4 from 28 May 2022 until 9 October 2022. 

A new six-part podcast, Hi, I'm Eddie, was launched on Mabo Day 2022. In this series, host Rhianna Patrick takes you on a journey to get to know Eddie Mabo and the case to understand the legacy he left behind. 

This material contains Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander content, and has been made available in accordance with State Library of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collections Commitments.