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Wurundjeri

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with the Wiradjuri people of Central New South Wales.

Wurundjeri
Languages
Woiwurrung, English
Religion
Aboriginal mythology, Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Boonwurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung, Wathaurong
see List of Indigenous group names
Aboriginals at Merri Creek by Charles Troedel

The Wurundjeri people are an Aboriginal people of the Woiwurrung language group, in the Kulin nation. They are the traditional owners of the Yarra River Valley, covering much of the present location of Melbourne. They continue to live in this area and throughout Australia. They were called the Yarra tribe by early European colonists.

The Wurundjeri Tribe Land and Compensation Cultural Heritage Council was established in 1985 by Wurundjeri people.

Ethnonym

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According to the early Australian ethnographer Alfred William Howitt, the name Wurundjeri, in his transcription Urunjeri, refers to a species of eucalypt, Eucalyptus viminalis, otherwise known as the manna or white gum, which is common along the Yarra River.[1] Some modern reports of Wurundjeri traditional lore state that their ethnonym combines a word, wurun, meaning Manna gum and djeri, a species of grub found in the tree, and take the word therefore to mean "Witchetty Grub People".[2]

Language

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Main article: Woiwurrung language

Wurundjeri people speak Woiwurrung, a dialect of Kulin. Kulin is spoken by the five groups in the Kulin nation.

Clans

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There are several distinct clans of Wurundjeri people with different territories:[3]

Wurundjeri balluk: Their territory covers the area from Mount Baw Baw to Healesville and the northern tributaries of the Yarra River, to the eastern side of the Maribyrnong River and up to Gisborne.

Wurundjeri Willum: Their territory includes the site of Melbourne, up to the east side of the Maribyrnong River and its western branch and along to Mount Macedon. It also includes the western half of country from the Plenty River to the Maribrynong River. Their name comes from wilam meaning 'camp/shelter'.

Marin balluk: From the western side of the Maribyrnong River, centred around Sunbury and the watersheds of Mount Macedon. Their name means "Maribrynong River".

Gunung Willum balluk: from the adjoining Wurundjeri country on the west side of Mount Macedon through to Bullengarook and Daylesford. Their name means "river shelter swamp".

Balluk Willum: from the Cranbourne area. Their name means "swamp shelters" and refers to the swamp that occupied the area before it was drained by colonists.

Ngaruk Willum: from the south side of the Dandenong Ranges.

Kurung Jang baluk: from the Melton area. Their name comes from gurrong (canoe) and baluk (swamp).

Country

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Basic territorial boundaries with other nations

Norman Tindale estimated Wurundjeri lands as extending over approximately 12,500 km2 (4,800 sq mi). These took in the areas of the Yarra and Saltwater rivers around Melbourne, and ran north as far as Mount Disappointment, northwest to Macedon, Woodend, and Lancefield. Their eastern borders went as far as Mount Baw Baw and Healesville. Their southern confines approached Mordialloc, Warragul, and Moe.[4]

The Wurundjeri-balluk and Wurundjeri-willam people occupied the area from the Yarra Valley/Yarra River catchment area to Heidelberg.[5]

In June 2021, the boundaries between the land of two of the traditional owner groups in greater Melbourne, the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung, were agreed between the two groups, after being drawn up by the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council. The new borderline runs across the city from west to east, with the CBD, Richmond and Hawthorn included in Wurundjeri land, and Albert Park, St Kilda and Caulfield on Bunurong land. It was agreed that Mount Cottrell, the site of a massacre in 1836 with at least 10 Wathaurong victims, would be jointly managed above the 160 m (520 ft) line. The two Registered Aboriginal Parties representing the two groups were the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation. However, these borders are still in dispute among several prominent figures and Wurundjeri territory has been claimed to spread much further west and south.[6]

History

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Main article: Woiwurrung § History

The earliest European settlers came across a park-like landscape extending inland from Melbourne, consisting of large areas of grassy plains to the north and southwest, with little forest cover, something thought to be testimony of indigenous sheet burning practices to expose the massive number of yam daisies which proliferated in the area.[7] These roots and various tuber lilies formed a major source of starch and carbohydrates.[8] Seasonal changes in the weather, availability of foods and other factors would determine where campsites were located, many near the Birrarung and its tributaries.

The Wurundjeri and Gunung Willam Balug clans mined diorite at Mount William stone axe quarry which was a source of the highly valued greenstone hatchet heads, which were traded across a wide area as far as New South Wales and Adelaide. The mine provided a complex network of trading for economic and social exchange among the different Aboriginal nations in Victoria.[9][10] The quarry had been in use for more than 1,500 years and covered 18 hectares including underground pits of several metres. In February 2008 the site was placed on the Australian National Heritage List for its cultural importance and archeological value.[11]

Settlement and dispossession of the Wurundjeri lands began soon after a ceremony in which Wurundjeri leaders conducted a tanderrum ceremony, whose function was to allow outsiders temporary access to the resources of clan lands. John Batman and other whites interpreted this symbolic act, recorded in treaty form, as equivalent to medieval enfeoffment of all Woiwurrong territory.[12] Within a few years settlement began around Pound Bend with Major Charles Newman at Mullum Mullum Creek in 1838, and James Anderson on Beal Yallock, now known as Anderson's Creek a year later. Their measures to clear the area of Aboriginals was met with guerrilla skirmishing, led by Jaga Jaga, with the appropriation of cattle and the burning of fields. They were armed with rifles, and esteemed to be excellent marksmen, firing close to Anderson to drive him off as they helped themselves to his potato crop while en route to Yering in 1840. A trap set there by Captain Henry Gibson led to Jaga Jaga's capture and a battle as the Wurundjeri fought unsuccessfully to secure his release. Resistance was broken, and settlements throve. One elder, Derrimut, later stated:

You see…all this mine. All along here Derrimut's once. No matter now, me soon tumble down…Why me have no lubra? Why me have no piccaninny? You have all this place. No good have children, no good have lubra. Me tumble down and die very soon now.[13][14]

The Lettsom Raid

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In 1840, the resistance to colonisation by armed groups of Wurundjeri and Taungurong (the "Goulburn River blacks") people resulted in the colonial authorities taking indiscriminate action against the Aboriginal population. In August 1840, the Lieutenant-Governor of the Port Phillip District, Charles La Trobe, ordered the expulsion of all Aboriginal people from the settlement of Melbourne.[15]

Additionally, the Governor of New South Wales, George Gipps, despatched Major Samuel Lettsom of the 80th Regiment from Sydney with a contingent of New South Wales Mounted Police troopers and soldiers to Melbourne. Lettsom was given a list of most wanted men which included Winberri, a leading Taungurung resistance leader.[15]

By October 1840, Major Lettsom had some success but was still unable to capture Winberri's gang. However, word had gotten out that a large group of Taungurung people were coming down from the Goulburn River region to conduct a corroborree with the Wurundjeri people. Lettsom was presented with an opportunity to "instil a little salutary dread" into "the blacks", as Winberri was rumoured to be amongst the travellers.[16]

On Friday 9 October 1840, the large meeting of around 400 Taungurung and Wurundjeri men, women and children began at what is now Yarra Bend Park. In the early hours of Sunday 11 October, Major Lettsom with soldiers of the 28th Regiment under Captain George Brunswick Smyth, troopers of the NSW Mounted Police under Lieutenant Frederick Russell and Border Police troopers under Frederick Powlett, stealthily surrounded the large group while they slept. After a discrete signal, the soldiers and troopers arrested and chained almost the entire group, with only one man and two women escaping. Several people were wounded during the arrest in what was to become known as the Lettsom Raid.[17][18]

Winberri was soon identified and as he was being chained he broke loose and attempted to attack Lieutenant Francis Vignolles of the 28th Regiment with his waddy. Sergeant Leary of the Mounted Police shot Winberri dead before he could land a blow on the lieutenant.[17][16][15][19]

Lettsom then secured the remaining 300 to 400 Aboriginal people which represented a considerable majority of the Woiwurrung-Taungurung people in existence, and his troopers marched them down Heidelberg Road and into Melbourne. Large numbers of their pet dogs and dingoes were shot. The women, children and old men who lagged behind were forced to keep moving by being pricked with bayonets and clubbed with rifle butts. Numerous injuries were recorded.[19]

At around 7am on the same morning, the hundreds of Taungurung, Woiwurrung and Wurundjeri captives were herded down Collins Street and corralled into a yard adjoining the hospital, opposite the main barracks. Rolf Boldrewood described the scene as

a whole tribe of blacks — wondering and frightened, young and old, warriors and greybeards, women and children — is being driven along Collins Street by troopers, on their way to the temporary gaol, there to be incarcerated for real or fancied violence[20]

Around 35 Taungurung men and boys were separated from the rest and chained together and placed in the jail on Collins Street. At 1pm those identified as Wurundjeri or Woiwurrung were set free. The remaining Taungurung, being mostly women, children and old men, were incarcerated in a warehouse next to the barracks. That night some of the Taungurung attempted to escape from the warehouse by digging under the wooden plank walls. The soldiers guarding the warehouse discovered the attempt and shot dead an old man and wounded another. Several managed to escape and eventually the others held in the warehouse were released.[17][16][19]

Of the 35 Taungurung chained up in jail, ten were remanded in custody to face trial for the "outrages" against the British colonists in the Goulburn River region. They faced court in early January 1841, where nine of them were found guilty and sentenced to 10 years transportation to Cockatoo Island jail in Sydney Harbour.[21] The nine convicted men were chained and loaded onto a small vessel on the Yarra River and while travelling down the river, they jumped overboard and attempted to swim to liberty. Four were shot dead, the others escaping with various wounds.[22]

Coranderrk

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Main article: Coranderrk

In 1863 the surviving members of the Wurundjeri tribe were given "permissive occupancy" of Coranderrk Station, near Healesville and forcibly resettled. Despite numerous petitions, letters, and delegations to the Colonial and Federal Government, the grant of this land in compensation for the country lost was refused. Coranderrk was closed in 1924 and its occupants bar five refusing to leave Country were again moved to Lake Tyers in Gippsland.

Wurundjeri today

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All remaining Wurundjeri people are descendants of Bebejan, through his daughter Annie Borate (Boorat), and in turn, her son Robert Wandin (Wandoon). Bebejan was a Ngurungaeta of the Wurundjeri people and was present at John Batman's "treaty" signing in 1835.[23] Joy Murphy Wandin, a Wurundjeri elder, explains the importance of preserving Wurundjeri culture:

In the recent past, Wurundjeri culture was undermined by people being forbidden to "talk culture" and language. Another loss was the loss of children taken from families. Now, some knowledge of the past must be found and collected from documents. By finding and doing this, Wurundjeri will bring their past to the present and recreate a place of belonging. A "keeping place" should be to keep things for future generations of our people, not a showcase for all, not a resource to earn dollars. I work towards maintaining the Wurundjeri culture for Wurundjeri people into the future.[a]

In 1985, the Wurundjeri Tribe Land Compensation and Cultural Heritage Council was established to fulfil statutory roles under Commonwealth and Victorian legislation and to assist in raising awareness of Wurundjeri culture and history within the wider community.[24][25]

Wurundjeri elders often attend events with visitors present where they give the traditional welcome to country greeting in the Woiwurrung language:

Wominjeka yearmenn koondee-bik Wurundjeri-Ballak

which means, "Welcome to the land of the Wurundjeri people".[26][27]

Notable people

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William Barak at Coranderrk

Ngurungaeta:

Other notable Wurundjeri people include:

Alternative names/spellings

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  • Coraloon (?)
  • Gungung-willam
  • Kukuruk (northern clan name)
  • Mort Noular (language name)
  • Ngarukwillam
  • N'uther Galla
  • Nuthergalla (ngatha = juða "no" in the Melbourne dialect).[29]
  • Oorongie
  • Urunjeri[30]
  • Waarengbadawa
  • Wainworra
  • Wairwaioo
  • Warerong
  • Warorong
  • Warwaroo
  • Wavoorong
  • Wawoorong, Wawoorong
  • Wawurong
  • Wawurrong
  • Woeworung
  • Woiworung (name for the language they spoke, from woi + worung = speech)
  • Woiwurru (woi = no + wur:u = lip)
  • Woiwurung, Woiwurong, Woiwurrong
  • Wooeewoorong
  • Wowerong
  • Wurrundyirra-baluk
  • Wurunjeri
  • Wurunjerri
  • Wurunjerri-baluk
  • Yarra Yarra
  • Yarra Yarra Coolies (kulin = man)

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wurundjeri.

Notes

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  1. ^ Joy Murphy Wandin quoted in Ellender & Christiansen 2001, p. 121

Citations

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  1. ^ Howitt 1889, p. 109, note 2.
  2. ^ Ellender & Christiansen 2001, p. 35.
  3. ^ Nicholson 2016.
  4. ^ Tindale 1974, pp. 208–209.
  5. ^ ISH History n.d.
  6. ^ Dunstan 2021.
  7. ^ Gammage 2012, pp. 45–46.
  8. ^ Pascoe 1947.
  9. ^ McBryde 1984, p. 44.
  10. ^ Presland 1994.
  11. ^ National Heritage List.
  12. ^ Barwick 1984, p. 122.
  13. ^ Jaga Jaga's Resistance War.
  14. ^ Clark 2005, p. ?.
  15. ^ a b c Cannon, Michael (1993). Black Land, White Land. Port Melbourne: Minerva. ISBN 1863303154.
  16. ^ a b c "Port Phillip". The Sydney Herald. Vol. X, no. 1073. New South Wales, Australia. 27 October 1840. p. 3. Retrieved 7 October 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ a b c "Port Phillip". The Sydney Monitor And Commercial Advertiser. Vol. XV, no. 1702. New South Wales, Australia. 24 October 1840. p. 2 (MORNING). Retrieved 7 October 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ Christie, Michael. "Lettsom Raid". Encyclopedia of Melbourne. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  19. ^ a b c Fels, Marie (2011). 'I Succeeded Once': The Aboriginal Protectorate on the Mornington Peninsula, 1839–1840 (PDF). Canberra: ANU Press. ISBN 9781921862120.
  20. ^ Boldrewood, Rolf (1896). Old Melbourne Memories. London: MacMillan.
  21. ^ "Port Phillip". Australasian Chronicle. Vol. III, no. 189. New South Wales, Australia. 23 January 1841. p. 2. Retrieved 7 October 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "Domestic Intelligence". Port Phillip Gazette. Vol. III, no. 209. Victoria, Australia. 16 January 1841. p. 3. Retrieved 7 October 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ VAHC 2008.
  24. ^ Abbotsford Convent Muse 2007.
  25. ^ Gardiner & McGaw 2018, p. 22.
  26. ^ Wandin 2000.
  27. ^ Flanagan 2003.
  28. ^ SLV: Simon Wonga.
  29. ^ Tindale 1974, p. 209.
  30. ^ Howitt 1889, p. 109.

Sources

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