ABORIGINAL axes found on a Yando farm have been returned to Yung Balug Artefact Museum.
John Barnes had farmed the land with brother Barry and when retired, took the two green stone axes to Mornington.
He has now returned the axes to the district for permanent display in the museum
According the the museum’s Paul Haw, the quarries of the prize stone were found at Mt William 10km west of Lancefield.
“The valued metamorphic green stone blanks were used by the Aborigines for making their prized axes,” he said.
“These had to be sharpened on a base stone, most from this area were sharpened at Bridgewater in the Loddon River at the end of the lava flow near the Flour Mill. When the river is low, these groves are able to be seen where this activity took place. 
“The prized axes from Mt William were traded to most states of Australia.” 
Mr Haw said Barry and Betty Barnes had also supported the museum.
“They contributed generously towards the reproduction of the 32 photos that are now on display. These photos were taken by John Hunter Kerr who owned Fernihurst Station on the Kinypanial Creek which flows into Lake Boort,” he said.
“The originals are now at the State Library of Victoria and are regarded as some of the oldest photos taken of Aboriginal people in their natural state in Australia in the very early 1850s.”
Mr Haw said return of the two axes had been welcomed by the Yung Balug Clan.
“These important artefacts and photos are preserved in the Boort District for everyone to enjoy,” he said. 
“The Yung Balug Artefact Museum receives visitors from every state of Australia.”