Queen Emma Timbery – a proud matriarch
Emma Timbery was an Aboriginal shellworker and matriarch, who established a long family legacy of arts.
‘Queen Emma’, or ‘Granny Timbery’ as she was known, was renowned for her shellwork and had regular displays at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney and as far as London. Thought to be a practice encouraged by missionaries, Aboriginal women in the La Perouse area forged their own distinctive shellwork styles, often selling such wares as intricately designed baskets, boxes, baby shoes, and boomerangs.
A skilled fisherwoman, Queen Emma was also instrumental in sharing her language and culture, contributing to the preservation and revival of the Dharawal language.
Queen Emma’s skill and dedication lives on in her descendants, including great-granddaughter and renowned artist Esme Timbery.