ABOUT ANCIENT JOURNEYS

Ancient Journeys is an Aboriginal-owned Aboriginal Art Gallery and Authentic Aboriginal Gift Shop located on the Esplanade in Cairns, Queensland. Our store is a treasure trove of handmade traditional and contemporary Aboriginal products, including boomerangs, didgeridoos, weavings, and clapsticks, as well as hand-painted homewares and original Gulf Art paintings. Additionally, we offer a wide range of beautifully crafted Aboriginal designs ethically reproduced onto Australian-made accessories and homewares, featuring "Made in Australia" labels, making them ideal gifts, especially for sending overseas.

We invite you to journey to the Dreamtime through our diverse and authentic collection of Indigenous art, gifts, and souvenirs, all ethically sourced from Aboriginal communities across Queensland and the Northern Territory. A selection of our items can be purchased in our online store, with an even broader assortment available in-store.

Founded in 2018 as a Gulf Project by the Aboriginal Development Benefits Trust (ADBT), Ancient Journeys is dedicated to empowering Indigenous artists from the remote communities of Normanton, Burketown, and Mornington Island in the lower Gulf of Carpentaria. Through art, we aim to empower these artists by showcasing their artwork in Cairns, providing them with a platform to reach a global audience. This enhances their visibility and supports their communities economically, allowing art to serve as a powerful tool for empowerment and cultural preservation.

Our collection also extends to a large selection of Indigenous books on arts and culture, as well as a vast array of bushfoods, traditional bush medicine, and fashion accessories from other Indigenous-owned businesses. All products in our store adhere to the Indigenous Art Code, ensuring that every item is authentically crafted and artists are fairly compensated.

The profits from all sales, including non-Gulf items, are channelled into funding other Gulf Projects through the ADBT. This ensures that every purchase not only supports the artists directly but also contributes to broader development efforts that benefit Gulf communities.

Nestled in the vibrant Cairns Art Precinct, Ancient Journeys serves as a cultural gateway amid the area’s rich Aboriginal heritage and dynamic art scene. With convenient access points from both the Cairns Esplanade, just down from the lagoon outside the Mantra Hotel, and a quiet courtyard behind The Courthouse Art Gallery, our gallery welcomes everyone who wishes to connect with the profound artistry and cultural heritage of Indigenous Australia.

In addition to promoting Indigenous art and culture, we also provide tourist information about visiting the Gulf Region of Queensland and The Daintree Discovery Centre. The Daintree Discovery Centre is another ADBT-owned business located deep in the ancient Daintree Rainforest—the oldest rainforest in the world. Just a day trip away from Cairns, this attraction offers an informative dive into the rich biodiversity of the Daintree, providing visitors with the opportunity to explore and learn about its ancient landscapes. Profits from the Daintree Discovery Centre are also reinvested in Gulf community projects, further supporting our mission.

We invite you to step into Ancient Journeys and experience the heart of Aboriginal creativity. By supporting Ancient Journeys, you are participating in a cycle of empowerment and development for Gulf communities—the right way, the sustainable way, the ethical way.

Welcome to Ancient Journeys!