The only one of its kind in the Hunter, the museum contains a 2000-year-old fireplace unearthed at Black Hill and other Aboriginal artefacts found throughout the area. 

“It’s a shame with mining, development and new legislation watering down the Heritage Act, that the only way to see artefacts now is in a museum,” Mindaribba senior sites officer Stephen Talbott said.

“We should have an area set aside where we can scatter ­artefacts back on country and educate kids on country. 

“People think they have to go to the Northern Territory to see rock shelf, but Wollombi is one of the richest sites there is.”

Mr Talbott said some of the items had been donated from locals, including a didgeridoo that had been kept in one woman’s house for 80 years. 

“To me it’s all significant,” Mr Talbott said. 

“These [items] were utilised by our ancestors and have a purpose and a story.

“The non-Aboriginal community now have an idea of how important Aboriginal cultural heritage is and it’s our job to educate them on it.” 

A passionate supporter of the museum and curator, Mr Talbott was elated to see it reopen. 

“I’m glad to see it opened up, it shouldn’t have been closed,” he said. 

The museum relaunch will take place on Thursday at 6pm at the Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council in Metford.