Corrigan Walk Art Tour

Bond University is home to Australia's largest private collection of Indigenous art on public display.

Tracing the evolution of Indigenous art from the traditional Western Desert Movement to the colourful contemporary styles, the Corrigan Walk is now attracting international acclaim. The unique collection features the works of our most celebrated and revered Indigenous artists including Gloria Petyarre, Naata Nungurrayi, Walangkura Napanangka and Tommy Watson.

The collection is named in honour of art patron and collector, Dr Patrick Corrigan AM, who has very generously helped create the Bond University Indigenous and non-Indigenous Art Collection through personal donations, long-term loans and facilitating donations from the art community.

The Corrigan Walk Art Tour provides a fascinating insight into these works, highlighting the artists, the dreamtime stories woven into each piece and the history of Indigenous art.

In keeping with Dr Corrigan’s desire to share these artworks with a wide audience and to raise awareness of Australia’s rich indigenous culture, free tours of the Corrigan Collection are available. They are held once a semester for staff, students and the general public.

Corrigan Walk welcome from Dr Patrick Corrigan

2024 Corrigan Walk tour dates

Thursday, 7 March at 2pm
Tuesday, 25 June at 11am
Monday, 23 September at 10am
Wednesday, 13 November at 10am (fully booked)

Group tours may be arranged for other preferred dates.

Self-guided Corrigan Walk tours

You can now download the Corrigan Walk app and take yourself on the tour at your own leisurely pace. This app allows you to hold your phone or tablet to the painting, which will then share the stories and meanings within them. The Corrigan Walk app will become your guide as it walks you through the collection.

All you need to do:

Search Corrigan Walk in your App Store/Google Play Store and download. This is a free app.
Contact Wendy Korb to arrange access to the building, along with free parking and directions.
Watch the brief video tutorial about the app.

For further information on group tours and self-guided tours using the app, please contact Wendy Korb on 0488 990730 or [email protected].

Indigenous Scholarships Program

Bond University offers a range of full and part scholarships, bursaries and grants to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through the generous support of corporate partners, funds raised at the Indigenous Gala and through a significant contribution by the University.

Dr Patrick Corrigan AM is one of Australia’s most prolific art collectors and patrons. His love of Australian art, books, photography, sport and music has manifested as 40 years of philanthropic contributions to regional, state and national institutions.

The generosity has extended to Bond University through Dr Corrigan’s substantial donations, loans and procurement of Indigenous artworks. His patronage of the University’s annual Indigenous Gala, which, since 2010, has raised more than $6 million to fund Bond scholarships, grants and bursaries for promising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Born in Central China, Dr Corrigan spent four years of his childhood in a prisoner of war camp after he and his mother were captured in Hong Kong at the outbreak of World War II. When they finally made it to Australia, Patrick finished his schooling at the age of 15 and went to work for the freight division of Unilever.

He went on to establish his own freight forwarding company – Corrigan’s Express – followed by a string of successful business ventures in the freight industry.

His interest in collecting art emerged in the 1960s when one of his clients introduced him to the art of Lloyd Rees, John Coburn and Pro Hart. Over the years, he amassed an impressive collection but, after seeing a landmark exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria in 2004, he began concentrating on contemporary Indigenous art.

As a collector, Dr Corrigan’s motivation is for these works to be shared. While many collectors prefer to keep their artworks in their homes or even in storage facilities, Dr Corrigan is adamant that his chosen pieces continue to provide enjoyment for a wide audience. Bond University are extremely grateful for his extraordinary generosity and the many other institutions he has donated artworks to.

In 2000, Dr Corrigan was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia medal for “service to the visual arts particularly as a philanthropist to regional galleries and through a grant scheme for artists”. In 2006, he was presented with an Honorary Doctorate by Bond University. Following this, in 2014, he was honoured as one of Queensland’s Greats in recognition of his contributions to Bond University and other Queensland institutions.

Praise for the Corrigan Walk Art Tour

As custodian of a small but treasured selection of traditional Aboriginal art gathered during 20 years spent in Arnhem Land, NT, I was keen to view the Corrigan Collection at Bond University. My opportunity came recently during a tour within the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, where I was astounded, and humbled by what I saw. Outstanding modern paintings of varying styles; filled with vibrant colours yet time-honoured designs telling ancient tales that continue all-important in the lives of the Australian Aboriginal peoples of today. Many thanks to Dr Corrigan, and the Aboriginal artists, for generously sharing these enriching cultural works with the wider community.

Donna Mroz Turcic - Southport, QLD

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