It was conceived by Djon (John) Mundine in 1987–88 and realised by 43 artists from Ramingining and neighbouring communities of Central Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory.

[1] The work takes the form of 200 hollow log coffins, known as dupun: the number was chosen to mark the years of European settlement.

[1] The items displayed in Aboriginal Memorial, however, were created for the purpose of the artwork and have not at any stage contained human remains, nor been used in reburial ceremonies.

[4] The work was intended "to commemorate the thousands of Aboriginal people who had perished in the course of European settlement, and for whom it has not been possible to conduct appropriate mortuary rites".

The creators of the Aboriginal Memorial always intended that it be publicly displayed,[1] and in 1987 the work was offered to the National Gallery of Australia, which helped fund its completion.

[3] In 2000, the Memorial formed the centrepiece of a major exhibition of Australian Indigenous art held in the prestigious Nicholas Hall at the Hermitage Museum in Russia.