´óÏó´«Ã½

Possum skin jackets were popular with Aborigines who lived in south-east Australia (present-day Victoria and New South Wales).

Worn on a daily basis, the jackets were an important part of 'clan identity' and were often decorated with clan insignias.

Each cloak contains about thirty five possum skins that have been sown together with kangaroo sinew. The cloaks were a vital means of keeping warm and were often handed down through generations as heirlooms.

The jackets played an important part in helping people to reach the afterlife. Individuals would be buried in their cloaks, that then acted as a vessel, taking them from life to death.

The existence of such cloaks came to light in early 19th century by western settlers to Australia.

This example was made by Mor Mor (Maureen Reyland) of the Muthi Muthi Aboriginal people in 2005 and acquired by the Australian Museum in 2009 with the assistance of the Gwendoline A West Bequest.