London - The skull of an indigenous Australian taken from the country 100 years ago and kept by a museum in Britain was handed back at a ceremony in Britain Wednesday.

The remains, believed to date back to the 19th century, were returned to representatives of the Ngarrindjeri people at the National Museum Liverpool, in northern Britain.

They had been bought from William Broad, of Liverpool, in 1948 after he visited Australia between 1902 and 1904 and published works on skeletal remains in the country.

George Trevorrow, 57, and Major Sumner, 61, who are both members of the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal tribe, collected the skull.

"We are here to take our ancestor back home. We believe that if there is a part of our ancestor missing and taken to another area that spirit never rests until their remains are put together in their home ground," Sumner said.

Trevorrow said there were about 600 Aboriginal remains held in British museums.

"I think British people are starting to understand our need for our tribal groups to have people returned to them. People who refuse these requests for the return of our ancestors are holding us down. We have been downtrodden for so long."

David Fleming, director of National Museums Liverpool, said it was fitting that the remains which entered the museum's collections many years ago should be returned.

"The fact is there is a debate. Not everyone believes this is the right thing to do. National Museums Liverpool believes this is exactly the right thing to do," said Fleming.

It is the second time remains have been returned to Australia from Liverpool. In 1997, the remains of the warrior Yagan were returned after the bones were exhumed from a cemetery in the city.

The remains of two other individuals will also be returned to Australia at a later date, the museum said.