Sand art - Margaret Kay

Margaret Kay in her Museum, with examples of her sand art visible at bottom left, C.1960s. TRM Collection K2447.

Margaret Kay was a Bundjalung woman who resided at Fingal. Margaret was born in the Northern Rivers but was sent to a welfare home around 1915 under the Aborigines Protection Act (1909). She became a nursemaid to a white family, and worked for them until 1948 when she retired to Tweed Heads. Proud of her Aboriginal heritage and wanting to preserve her culture, she joined local history groups in the Tweed. She became known as a keeper of Aboriginal artifacts and eventually opened her own museum in the front of her home.

Margaret took on the responsibility of maintaining a nearby Bora ground previously used for initiation ceremonies. In 1961 she obtained official approval to preserve it as a historic site and became the official caretaker of the Bora ground. Her work is now preserved at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Centre.

Margaret is remembered for her love of painting, drawing, and craft. She is particularly remembered for her sand painting. A large collection of Margaret’s art, including shell work and sand paintings, is on display at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Tweed Heads South.

Margaret Kay’s Sand Art

These bottles of sand painting were made by Margaret Kay. Both feature ocean scenes with ships under steam.

Sand art in bottles, by Margaret Kay. TRM Collection MUS1962.10.