100% Aboriginal Owned
Our Story
Cairns Esplanade, Queensland
Welcome to Ancient Journeys
Ancient Journeys is an Aboriginal Art Gallery and Indigenous Gift Shop, proudly Indigenous-owned and located in the heart of the Cairns Art Precinct on the Esplanade, where culture, art, and community come together. It was established under the Gulf Regional Economic Aboriginal Trust (GREAT) to give artists from communities in The Lower Gulf of Carpentaria a platform to display and sell their work.
All paintings and limited edition prints on our walls are by Gulf artists from Normanton, Doomadgee, Burketown, and Mornington Island, reflecting their stories, traditions, and unique visions.
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Handcrafted Art & Indigenous Gifts
You’ll also find handcrafted artefacts, including boomerangs, clapsticks, didgeridoos, sculptures, carvings, weavings, and jewellery, as well as hand-painted homewares such as ceramics, bowls, vases, and magnets — all purchased from Indigenous artists and art centres, primarily from North Queensland and the Northern Territory, reflecting a variety of distinctive styles.
Our Indigenous gift shop focuses on Australian-made products, from homewares and bushfoods to traditional bush medicines, toys, books, and fashion items. Many pieces are sourced from Indigenous-owned businesses, and others feature printed designs created in partnership with Indigenous artists.A wide selection is available online, with even more to explore in-store, making them ideal gifts for overseas.
A Space to Explore
Every visit to Ancient Journeys offers a meaningful opportunity to connect with the richness of Indigenous culture and creativity. When you support our gallery, your impact goes beyond a simple visit. You actively participate in a vital cycle of empowerment and ongoing economic development for Gulf artists and their local communities—always done the right way, the sustainable way, and the ethical way.
We invite you to take your time and explore our carefully curated collection, featuring traditional style paintings from the Gulf and authentic Indigenous products sourced from across Australia.
Our Purpose
The GREAT Initiative
Founded in 2018 as a Gulf Project by the Gulf Regional Economic Aboriginal Trust (GREAT), Ancient Journeys is a social enterprise 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 work 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 cultural preservation.
The profits from all sales are channelled into funding other Gulf Projects through GREAT. This ensures that every purchase not only supports the artists directly but also contributes to broader development efforts that benefit the Native Title Groups of the region.
Discover the GREAT TrustOur Principles
What We Stand For
We are committed to ethical practice, cultural respect, and genuine community impact through every artwork we share.
Indigenous Art Code
Authentic & Ethical
We are a proud signatory to the Indigenous Art Code, guaranteeing every piece is authentically crafted and artists are fairly compensated.
Community First
100% Aboriginal Owned
We operate as a social enterprise, directly benefiting First Nations people and supporting community-led initiatives across the Gulf.
Local Craftsmanship
Australian Made
Our artworks and gifts showcase local craftsmanship, proudly handcrafted, printed, or produced in Australia.
Commitment to Authenticity
Ancient Journeys is a proud signatory to the Indigenous Art Code,
reflecting our commitment to ethical trade in Indigenous art and products.
We source responsibly, support fair payment to artists, and respect cultural rights
- so you can purchase with confidence.