A collection of culturally significant objects have been returned to Darwin's Larrakia people from a British museum.

Thirty-three objects, including spears, spear throwers and a club, were returned by the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery last week.

Collected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and held in the museum's collection for decades, the objects' return marked a significant act of international cooperation and cultural recognition.

A ceremony at the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery celebrated the return, with speeches delivered by Larrakia representatives, as well as Bristol City Council and Australian Government representatives.

Among them were Larrakia representatives Nigel Browne and Mikayla Lee.

"As the former CEO of Larrakia Development Corporation and having worked with the outstanding team at AIATSIS for over three years to arrive at this point, it is with a great sense of pride and honour that I am able to now participate in this repatriation process for my people," Mr Browne said.

"Most importantly, I look forward to seeing these artefacts on display at the Larrakia Cultural Centre along with all the other repatriated items yet to come home."

Following their return, the objects will be temporarily housed at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory until the opening of the Larrakia Cultural Centre in 2026 – a landmark cultural facility which is currently being built adjacent to the sacred site of Stokes Hill, Darwin Harbour.

Ms Lee, a Larrakia Cultural Centre Advisory Group member, said the return marked a significant cultural milestone for Larrakia peoples.

"Bringing our Ancestors spears home is about passing culture on to our young ones, keeping our role as custodians strong, and building a bridge of respect between our communities and the institutions that have held these objects," she said.

"When they come home, it opens the door for truth-telling, healing, and walking together in reconciliation.

"These spears belong on Country, where the energy and spirit our Ancestors put into them still lives, and where they've always belonged."

Larrakia Development Corporation chairperson Mark Motlop said once returned, the objects will be displayed so "their stories are honoured and shared with the world for many years to come".

"Today is an extremely important milestone for the revitalisation and maintenance of Larrakia culture, now and for future generations, as we accept these culturally significant artefacts from the Bristol Museum back to the rightful custodianship of Larrakia people," Mr Motlop said.

"It has been a long and emotional journey for Larrakia people in the repatriation of these items to Larrakia Country - one that will facilitate healing and the intergenerational transfer of knowledge."

The return is part of the Australian Government's Return of Cultural Heritage (RoCH) program, led by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS).

AIATSIS chair, Leonard Hill, described the return as a powerful example of how collaboration between communities and institutions can restore cultural authority and support intergenerational knowledge.

"The return of these items to the Larrakia people is a profound act of recognition and respect," Mr Hill said.

"It reflects our shared commitment to truth-telling and to restoring cultural authority to First Nations communities.

"These objects belong with their people, on their Country, where they can once again contribute to cultural life and intergenerational knowledge."

The return follows the recent return of cultural objects to Larrakia peoples from Los Angeles' Fowler Museum in May.

Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, said the Federal Government is proud to invest in the AIATSIS-led Return of Cultural Heritage program, which facilitates the safe return of cultural heritage material held in overseas collections.

"I congratulate Larrakia Elders, AIATSIS and the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery for their work to return these important cultural items to their rightful custodians, the Larrakia people," Ms McCarthy said.

"I look forward to seeing these items eventually being displayed at the new Larrakia Cultural Centre on Larrakia Country in Darwin, so they can be shared with future generations."

AIATSIS says the return will further enrich the experience of the Larrakia Cultural Centre, which will serve as a hub for cultural tourism, language revitalisation and education, offering people a chance to engage with Larrakia knowledge and traditions through the lens of its Traditional Owners.