A culturally significant carved dhulu (tree), taken from Country more than a century ago will return to Australia, instilling optimism in the Gamilaraay people who are its custodians.

The tree , which was taken from a ceremonial ground, near Boggabri NSW in the early 20th century, has been held in the Swiss Museum der Kulturen Basel’s collection for 85 years.

Gamilaraay elder Greg Bulingha Griffiths said the tree and its carvings are significant to his people.

“The carvings on the tree represent parts of our lore and customs, and about who we are as a people,” he told AAP.

Mr Griffiths said the return of the tree will mean Gamilaraay people can reconnect to their old people, and the lores and customs represented in its carvings.

“It’s incredible for me to even think about,” he said.

“All the things that our forefathers had to endure, contact, colonisation, all the things in our history.

“Now we’re going to bring back a significant item … and it can only be inspiring to our people to know that these things can happen.”

Discussions about the tree’s repatriation began in 2022 after Bundjalung, Gamilaraay and Muruwari man and director of the Wominjeka Djeembana Indigenous Research Lab at Monash University Professor Brian Martin saw it at Museum der Kulturen Basel.

Mr Griffiths and his nephew Wayne Griffiths have travelled to Switzerland, where the tree will be handed over to them in a ceremony on Thursday.

The tree is being returned with the assistance of Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Return of Cultural Heritage Program.

“Basel has been really receptive to letting us have it back, and we know that’s a hard gig or a hard choice to make for museums to return stuff,” Greg Griffiths said.

“Them being open to it even happening and AIATSIS’s work to get all the logistics done, it’s been pretty overwhelming.”

Representatives of the Gamilaraay people have carved a new tree as a gift for the museum.

Wayne Griffiths said he hopes more museums will get on board to return cultural heritage items to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country.

He said the return of this tree to Gamilaraay people will mean younger generations will be able to learn about the cultural practices, contained in its carvings.

“There’s this optimism around our children and the younger generation having more access to this culturally significant piece,” he said.

“It’ll be back on homeland, our kids will get to see it … when you leave something behind for the next generation it’s always a better world in the end.”

Australian Associated Press