Aboriginal group with gulmari shields, Macintyre River (Northern New South Wales or South-East Queensland), c.1870.

Stereoscopic albumen print photograph, each half of the image approximately 72 x 75 mm, on original flat mount of grey card, 83 x 173 mm; the mount has a fully contemporary inscription in ink in the right margin: ‘McIntire Blacks’; verso blank; the print and mount are in very good condition.

The Macintyre River, which was named after New England pastoralist Peter MacIntyre, rises on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales, west of Guyra and south of Glen Innes. It flows generally northwest and west, joined by twenty-two tributaries, including the Severn River (New South Wales) and Dumaresq River, before reaching its confluence with the Weir River to form the Barwon River, west of Goondiwindi. Part of the course of the river marks the border between Queensland and New South Wales.

While the precise location in which this early photograph was taken – as well as the identity of the photographer – are both unknown, the group of men, women and children posed for the camera are almost certainly Bigambul or Gamilaraay people. The man standing at far right is holding a gulmari shield; another shield of similar type can be seen in the foreground just left of centre.