Author Topic: Towns with Aboriginal Names  (Read 58320 times)

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Offline heath74

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #100 on: June 16, 2013, 09:38:56 PM »
I live near Mordialloc, which comes from two words, Mordi and Yalloc, which when put together mean flat water.

I'd say this would be Bunerong, since they are the local people.

Offline Tjupurula

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #101 on: June 16, 2013, 09:47:36 PM »
Hi Swaggers
It would seem that heaps of people have learned the names and their definition, which I reckon is fantastic, and also a lot iof people have also identified the tribal name of the people in their area, and to me that makes this even more fantastic, as my grandkids are learning tribal groups and searching for them on the map identifying tribal areas.
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« Last Edit: June 16, 2013, 10:25:18 PM by Tjupurula »

Offline Flemo

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #102 on: June 16, 2013, 10:16:13 PM »
Here's something else I found, around the local area each town has the yeagl meaning of the town name on the road signs entering town.. bit of explanation about how the river and some features were made as well..http://www.yarrawali.net/?page_id=2

Offline rescue1

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #103 on: June 16, 2013, 11:22:28 PM »
They've actually started teach the Darug language in the local schools to try to preserve the language, even though most Sydney residents already know at least half a dozen words. It cracks me up to hear Somali kids speaking the language that some of the "descendants" of the tradition owners don't understand. The hardest part for us while folks is being able to correctly pronounce the words...

Offline Tjupurula

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #104 on: June 17, 2013, 12:53:43 AM »
They've actually started teach the Darug language in the local schools to try to preserve the language, even though most Sydney residents already know at least half a dozen words. It cracks me up to hear Somali kids speaking the language that some of the "descendants" of the tradition owners don't understand. The hardest part for us while folks is being able to correctly pronounce the words...

Ditto Rescue1, as we do not have certain letters in pronounciation that you have, such as Q, Z and X, which makes it extremely difficult to pronounce a lot of words that are in the English language.
Regards
Tjupurula

Offline SteveandViv

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #105 on: June 17, 2013, 08:57:42 AM »
They've actually started teach the Darug language in the local schools to try to preserve the language, even though most Sydney residents already know at least half a dozen words. It cracks me up to hear Somali kids speaking the language that some of the "descendants" of the tradition owners don't understand. The hardest part for us while folks is being able to correctly pronounce the words...

I think that's great. My boys learn language at school as well and considering that 50% of his mates are locals, it's a good thing he does. Gives a good perspective on things.
http://steveandviv.blogspot.com.au/

Offline Tjupurula

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #106 on: June 17, 2013, 09:04:23 AM »
I think that's great. My boys learn language at school as well and considering that 50% of his mates are locals, it's a good thing he does. Gives a good perspective on things.

Still waiing for the definition of your hometown Steve.......th one your were dfinitely getting the other day 8)
Tjupurula

Offline jimc1

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #107 on: June 18, 2013, 11:41:21 AM »
The Melbourne suburb of Nunawading is ment to be an indigenous name for meeting place..or battleground. Nice part of the world..so can see why it could be a meeting place.

Offline evolution

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #108 on: June 18, 2013, 11:51:11 AM »
Found another one for you TJ,

Town: Wodonga (border of Vic and NSW)

Meaning: For centuries, the Albury Wodonga area was known as Bungambrawatha, or homeland, by the Wiradjuri people who first settled here. It wasn’t until 1838, when the Assistant Surveyor General decided that Albury sounded more familiar to the settlers’ ears, that the name changed hands. While Wodonga, meaning bulrushes, still retains its indigenous name.

Extra information: As a massive water system in a huge dry land, the Murray was and remains a powerful source of life. Which is why the Wiradjuri were frequently joined by many other hunting groups, from the surrounding mountains and flatlands, who would travel hundreds of kilometres to gather here, establishing an important place for meetings, a tradition that continues to this day.

Speaking many different languages and dialects, they would perform corroboree, initiation and marriage ceremonies, share stories, exchange knowledge and skills, hunt and eat along the banks and around the billabongs of the Murray.

The river and surrounding hills and valleys have preserved the sites and artefacts of this rich ancient life in a living museum. The rock carvings of Yeddonba, just outside of Chiltern, the Duduroa people’s rock painting of the Tasmanian Tiger at Mt Pilot, and Table Top massive, a place believed to be of great spiritual meaning, are just some of the many wonderful experiences to be found.

Ngan Girra Festival

The Wiradjuri people remain strongly linked with Albury Wodonga through the Ngan Girra ( Bogong Moth ) Festival, which celebrates indigenous cultures and commemorates the gathering of their ancestors. Its name and symbol are taken from the ritual of tribes who would, after their meetings and ceremonies, go up into the high country in search of the migrating Bogong Moth.

Burraja. The Journey

The Indigenous Cultural and Environmental Discovery Centre, at the Gateway Village on the banks of the Murray, provides a unique blend of indigenous cultural and environmental experiences that is involving for both adults and children.

Led by professional Aboriginal experts and archaeologists, you are introduced to the cultural inheritance of indigenous peoples of the Upper Murray Valley. Their lifestyle, stone tool technology, bush tucker, archaeology, arts and crafts are all brought together to create a three-dimensional view of how these ancient people lived.

See your land through Aboriginal eyes

Unlike the scars of canoes cut from the bark of gums, which still line the river banks, much of the fascinating evidence of Aboriginal life is not easily seen by untrained eyes. With the help of a Parklands Aboriginal guide and archaeologists you can learn how to look at the land through Aboriginal eyes. They will train you to read the landscape, to see the movement of Aboriginal people through the countryside, hunting and camping sites, and literally follow in the footsteps of this land’s ancestors.

The buried rainforest beneath your feet.

Before the European farmers came and began to control the flow of the Murray, the river ran a much broader, meandering course across the countryside. During heavy rainfalls it flooded vast areas with water and sand. Over time, it even managed to bury an entire forest of Australian cedar under 15 metres of Murray sand. The rare wood no longer exists above ground, but many examples of this well preserved, 40,000-year-old timber can be found beneath your feet.

Link: http://www.alburywodongaaustralia.com.au/AreaInfo/aboriginal.asp

Cheers
Evo
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Offline Tjupurula

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #109 on: June 18, 2013, 12:10:14 PM »
Hi Evo
Great article, thankyou very much.
I found the bit about marriage ceremonies a bit strange, as to my knowledge no tribe has ever had marriage ceremonies as such.  When a boy becomes a man, he is given a promised wife, and when she is of appropriate learning and age, he is entitled to go to the family and take his wife.  To any politically correct person who does not like that idea, I don't care, our ways are as they are.
Regards
Tjupurula
« Last Edit: June 18, 2013, 12:38:19 PM by Tjupurula »

Offline stephwoodall

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #110 on: June 18, 2013, 12:17:29 PM »
You may be a white shiela (to use your words), but you were stillkind enough to share what you had learned.  I would not pretend to have known that Dreaming before you shared it, so I have no problems telling my grandcildren that a woman on tyhe computer site shared this Dreaming with me.  I believe therefore to tell them such I should have your consent.
Obviously it is not your Dreaming, but you are Australian, therefore I see it as part of your culture too.
Regards
Tjupurula

Hi Tjupurula,

You are an amazing person.  I don't post much here but I absolutely love reading your posts and insights.  You have such a vast amount of knowledge to share and we white fellas have so much to learn.

Thank you so much!   :cup:

Cheers

Steph

Offline evolution

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #111 on: June 18, 2013, 12:33:30 PM »
Hi Evo
Great article, thankyou very much.
I found the bit about marriage ceremonies a bit strange, as to my knowledge no tribe has ever had marriage ceremonies as such.  When a boy becomes a man, he is gioven a [promised wiofe, and when she is of appropriate leaning and age, he is entitled to go to the family and take his wife.  To any politically correct person who does not like that idea, I don't care, our ways are as they are.
Regards
Tjupurula

Yep what can I say. Im guessing it was written by someone who had the best intentions but little knowledge.
I can understand what you mean, nothing wrong with the way that works mate.
On the whole though I do like how there is allot of focus here on the history (both aboriginal and early settlers) of the area. There is so much to learn and the discovery center the the article speaks of is a fantastic place to vist.

Cheers
Evo
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Offline Tjupurula

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #112 on: June 18, 2013, 12:35:53 PM »
Hi Tjupurula,

You are an amazing person.  I don't post much here but I absolutely love reading your posts and insights.  You have such a vast amount of knowledge to share and we white fellas have so much to learn.

Thank you so much!   :cup:

Cheers

Steph

Hi Steph
We are going to have to agree to disagree there.  I am not amazing, I am no different to anyone else on this site, I just hav a different background because I am a black fella, I am extremely proud of my ancestors, my people's culture, our Dreamings and everything else.  I do believe that the more people can understand what we (black fellas) are about, and I am talking about us mob who stay in the tribal countries that own us, the more people will realise that there could be something worthwhile learning more about and respecting.
I ws not sharing much before I had my heart attacks, but then I saw those disgusting, ill mannered black drunks in towns, and I began to understand why a lot of people do not have much time for black fellas, and I completely comprehended such feelings.
It is people like the members of this site who are amazing, letting a desert black fella be a member and allowing me to share some things.  My daughter said similar kinds of things on another site, she was referred to as a "dirty coon" and told quite open to get off the site.  In the end they were the losers, and they were the uneducated ones, as she showers regularly, so she is not dirty, and the only thing that I know which is "coon" is a brand of cheese.  My daughter laughed it off, as I have taught all my descendants not to worry about what others say, it is their (the others) problems, not ours at all.
Hopefully back to topic again.
Regards
Tjupurula

Offline sonny

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #113 on: June 18, 2013, 02:49:53 PM »
Thanks for this fantastic topic Tjupurula

I was born in a town in NSW called Quirindi - from Wikipedia - The Indigenous Kamilaroi people lived in the area for many thousands of years. The name Quirindi comes from the Gamilaraay language, with a number of meanings having been attributed it, which include ‘nest in the hills’, ‘place where fish breed’ and ‘dead tree on mountain top’.[1][4] Early spellings of the name included ‘Cuerindi’ and ‘Kuwherindi’

My family lived in a little village about 19kms away called Caroona (cannot find an Aboriginal name).  There was an Aboriginal Mission very close to our farm.  This topic has stirred me to do some research and this is what I found
Caroona formerly had a station on the Binnaway – Werris Creek railway line and has a grain storage and loading facility. Caroona is located near the Mooki River.
The village of Walhallow is located about 2 kilometres north of Caroona, although it is across the local government area boundary, in Gunnedah Shire. Walhallow is the site of a former aboriginal reserve and mission, and was formerly called 'Caroona Mission'.

I also found some other items about the Mission which you might find of interest

http://www.workingwithatsi.info/content/reading11E.htm
http://indigenoushistories.com/2013/01/11/wallhallow-the-first-aboriginal-ww1-memorial/
http://www.heritage.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahpi/record.pl?RNE16088

We moved away from the farm when I was only about 5 years old, but remember my Dad talking about lots of things.  Mum and Dad hired some of the Aboriginal men from the Mission to work on the farm sometimes and always invited them to sit at our table and have a meal with the family (some declined as they felt scared maybe) but told mum that we were the only family in the district that invited them inside.  Very sad, but it was back in the 60's.  Dad always had great respect for the men who worked for him, and from what I have heard, they respected him greatly too.   The farmer mentioned in the article who donated the land for the graveyard, was the man who bought our farm.

Thank you so much for this thread Tjupurula.  It has brought back so many wonderful memories for me. 
 
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Offline sonny

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #114 on: June 18, 2013, 04:04:03 PM »
Another one with a big family attachment
Cootamundra NSW
 Cootamundra is best known for being the birthplace of Australian cricketing great Sir Donald Bradman (on 27 August 1908) and as the home of the Cootamundra Wattle (Acacia Baileyana).
The region was originally occupied by the indigenous Wiradjuri people. Europeans entered the area from around 1830
The town itself was built on land that was once a part of John Hurley's 'Cootamondra' station. The name is a variation of the Aboriginal term 'gooramundra', which translates either to 'turtle', 'swamp' or 'low lying'.
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Offline Raym

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #115 on: June 18, 2013, 07:01:24 PM »
Not a town name but this may of interest for those who live in or are visiting Brisbane. Seems an appropriate topic for those cruising these forums. Hope I can get down & have a look.

http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/yiwarra_kuju/home


Offline noel_w

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #116 on: June 18, 2013, 07:51:21 PM »

I was born in a town in NSW called Quirindi - 


Who’d A Thought It?  (local joke there! there is a lookout on the hill near town with this name)
I worked in Quirindi for 3 yrs (84-87). Lived in Tamworth though.
Same indigenous people as where I came from near Terry Hie Hie (Kamilaroi)
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Offline toeball

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #117 on: June 18, 2013, 08:45:51 PM »
I grew up in a town on the south coast of NSW called Ulladulla meaning safe harbour


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Me too, I now live on the Gold Coast, the aboriginal meaning for the GC is "shiny shallow people living beyond their means".

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Offline sonny

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #118 on: June 18, 2013, 08:52:05 PM »

Who’d A Thought It?  (local joke there! there is a lookout on the hill near town with this name)
I worked in Quirindi for 3 yrs (84-87). Lived in Tamworth though.
Same indigenous people as where I came from near Terry Hie Hie (Kamilaroi)

Haha Noel_w - never thought anyone would know about Who'd a Thought it !  We had friends who lived up the road to the lookout.  We left Quirindi in about 1966 and moved to Sydney - what a culture shock that was for a kid from the bush
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Offline 03hilux

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #119 on: June 18, 2013, 09:42:42 PM »
Hi Tjupurula,

You are an amazing person.  I don't post much here but I absolutely love reading your posts and insights.  You have such a vast amount of knowledge to share and we white fellas have so much to learn.

Thank you so much!   :cup:

Cheers

Steph

Hi Steph
We are going to have to agree to disagree there.  I am not amazing, I am no different to anyone else on this site, I just hav a different background because I am a black fella, I am extremely proud of my ancestors, my people's culture, our Dreamings and everything else.  I do believe that the more people can understand what we (black fellas) are about, and I am talking about us mob who stay in the tribal countries that own us, the more people will realise that there could be something worthwhile learning more about and respecting.
I ws not sharing much before I had my heart attacks, but then I saw those disgusting, ill mannered black drunks in towns, and I began to understand why a lot of people do not have much time for black fellas, and I completely comprehended such feelings.
It is people like the members of this site who are amazing, letting a desert black fella be a member and allowing me to share some things.  My daughter said similar kinds of things on another site, she was referred to as a "dirty coon" and told quite open to get off the site.  In the end they were the losers, and they were the uneducated ones, as she showers regularly, so she is not dirty, and the only thing that I know which is "coon" is a brand of cheese.  My daughter laughed it off, as I have taught all my descendants not to worry about what others say, it is their (the others) problems, not ours at all.
Hopefully back to topic again.
Regards
Tjupurula

Hi Tjupurula,

You got me thinking about the meaning and origin of the word "coon".  So i did a google search and wiki gives a number of definitions of the word, but no mention of using it as a dirogitory word. All I could find is referals to the solider warriors that fought the Trojan war in ancient greece, and it is also an abreviated name for the american cat Maine Coon, "with a distinctive physical appearance and valuable hunting skills. It is one of the oldest natural breeds"
Not being one to be upset when people call me names, and try to see good in most things, I would take it as a compliment, and look at the person calling me one as uneducated ;D
I hope you dont mind my research.

Offline Bunyip

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #120 on: June 18, 2013, 11:57:10 PM »
I grew up in Ku-ring-gai Council (Guringai people), went to school in Turramurra (High Hill or Tall Trees) and lived in Wahroonga (Our Home).

I too have lived in a suburb of Blacktown for the last 15 years and whilst I agree that history is history still do not like the name or how it came about. I was only talking with LB the other day about why they have not changed the name, I could imagine it would been seen by some as trying to erase history.

What a wonderful topic, now I am going to stay up late into the night and early morning reading and researching more about where I was born and the Aboriginal history of the area.

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Offline KieranR

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #121 on: June 19, 2013, 12:35:18 AM »
I work in Onslow, not sure of the aboriginal name for the town, but the land I work on is owned by the Thalanyji people.

Cheers
Kieran

Offline wacanary

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #122 on: June 19, 2013, 02:08:58 AM »
I live in Yokine (northern suburb of Perth) which (according to wikipedia) is Nyungar for dog. Local shopping centre is Dog Swamp which fits in with the naming convention but can't imagine it entices people to travel far to shop here!

Offline Tjupurula

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #123 on: June 19, 2013, 10:14:19 PM »
I work in Onslow, not sure of the aboriginal name for the town, but the land I work on is owned by the Thalanyji people.

Cheers
Kieran

Hi Kieran
Which Onslow are you talking about, as the only one that I know of is closer to Geraldton or Carnarvon here in WA.
Regards
Tjupurula

Offline Tjupurula

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Re: Towns with Aboriginal Names
« Reply #124 on: June 19, 2013, 10:20:42 PM »
Haha Noel_w - never thought anyone would know about Who'd a Thought it !  We had friends who lived up the road to the lookout.  We left Quirindi in about 1966 and moved to Sydney - what a culture shock that was for a kid from the bush

Hi Sonny
I have learned all about "culture shocks".   Last year I got a bit sick, and was flown to Broome, then Perth, then Adelaide, and was flown back via Alice Springs.  When I left I was 52, and the biggest city I had ever been to at that stage was Broome.  I had been to Alice Springs a couple of times, but camped out of town and allowed the family to take care of everything that needed doing.  I have decided that I will never againg to a big town, I am a desert black fella, nothing more and nothing less.
Regards
Tjupurula