Emu egg carving
The art of carving emu eggs - Kalti Paarti - became popular in the 19th century. Emu egg shells have multiple layers ranging from an inner white layer through to the familiar green outer layer, ensuring they are highly valued for carving among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal artists.
Licences to carve or decorate emu eggs
If you want to carve or decorate emu eggs, you'll need a licence from the NPWS.
A licence allows you to:
Download a licence application form (emueggapplication.pdf, 57KB ).
Can I collect emu eggs from the wild?
No, it is illegal to collect emu eggs from the wild.
You can only acquire emu eggs from captive sources such as emu farms, fauna parks and zoos.
What if I just want to buy carved or decorated emu eggs?
If you just want to buy carved or decorated emu eggs from an artist or store, you don’t need a licence.
When buying, always check for the following so you know the egg was legally sourced:
Licence conditions
Licensees must submit a report before renewing or ending their licence. The report shows how many eggs were bought and sold, and where they were sourced from.
Download the licence conditions template (emuegglicencetemplate.pdf 46KB).
Artists also need to write or etch their licence number on each egg they carve or decorate.
Useful documents and links
Emu egg carving / decoration licence report template (emueggactivitysheet.pdf, 115KB).
Kalti Paarti- emu egg carving: the Australian Museum in Sydney holds a large collection of beautifully carved emu eggs.
Further information
Contact the Wildlife Licensing and Management Unit for further information.
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Page last updated: 24 January 2013
