These handmade, hand-painted plywood returning boomerangs are crafted by Joshua K. Skeen, a proud member of the Kuku-Thaypan and Birri-Gabba tribes from Far North Queensland. We source these boomerangs directly from Josh.
Made out of ply wood for lightness and strength. These boomerangs genuinely return!
Available in a variety of designs featuring iconic Australian animals.
We sell so many boomerangs in the shop that it's not possible to put individual returning boomerangs online. Designs will be random. If you want a specific animal please email us and we will try and fulfil as best we can but cannot guarantee.
Joshua learned the art of boomerang making from his father, Joe Skeen (Snr), who was in turn taught by his own father and grandfather over 71 years ago. Joe continues to craft boomerangs using traditional Aboriginal techniques and designs. Growing up working alongside his father, Joshua has inherited this deep cultural knowledge, with Joe passing down his skills and experiences in the creation of handcrafted Aboriginal artefacts.
BOOMERANGS
There are basically 3 types of boomerangs that are/were made and used by aboriginal people across Australia. These include hunting boomerangs, returning boomerangs and star shaped returning boomerangs. All tribes made and used the hunting boomerang, but, not all tribes made and used the typical returning boomerang or the star shaped hunting/returning boomerang.
Returning Boomerang
V shaped boomerang. This boomerang is designed to return to the thrower. Usually about 16 to 20 inches (35 to 45 cm) long. Sometimes they may be smaller or larger. The returning boomerang was not primarily designed for hunting as it is too light and wouldn't guarantee a kill. Rather, it was designed as a toy for young aboriginal boys. The toy would allow a youngster to practice throwing skills but still make it fun.
Sometimes this type of boomerang may have been used for hunting. When hunting ducks, for example, nets were set up at either ends of a creek or river. A boomerang was then thrown out over the ducks which gave them a scare so that they took off up the river and flew directly into the nets. From there they were collected. At other times during the hunting of birds the returning boomerang was thrown horizontally along the ground into a flock, and, as they took off the boomerang would follow them into the air. This may or may not kill the bird and a harder way to hunt.
