Indigenous History

See also Indigenous People, Indigenous Places

overview

• The Yuin or Coast Murring occupied territory from Cape Howe to the Shoalhaven River and inland to the Great Dividing Range. The population pre 1788 was estimated at about 11,000 between Cape Howe and Batemans Bay, comprising two main tribes - Walbanja, north of Narooma, and Dyiringanj from Narooma, south to Bega and west to the top of the range. 

• Smallpox epidemics in 1789 and 1830 plus tribal battles and some venereal disease from whalers is believed to have reduced the population by 95 percent, that is, only about six hundred survivors. Massacres by whites had little effect.

• The Yuin are considered as the traditional owners of Wallaga Lake land. Yuin is the generic name for all tribes from Merimbula to Port Jackson just as lnuit (man) is adopted by the Eskimos in northern latitudes. More recently, the name Koori, from the Sydney area language group, is becoming more popular to describe the Aboriginal people as a race.

• Water travel was by bark canoes - usually two persons with small bark blades paddling in a kneeling position, or smaller one person canoes  paddling by hand. 

• Burials usually took place in sand dunes where primitive stone axes have sometimes been found. Most sacred sites have been identified on Forestry Commission maps but a few others are claimed to be in and around Bermagui township.

• There were wars between tribes from different areas as late as the 1800's

yuin history

Some aspects of the difficulty encountered by the Aboriginal people in their quest for survival on the South Coast and/or adaptation to white laws are presented here in sequence.

1830's

The main aim was to prevent Gulaga (Mt Dromedary), a sacred site, being desecrated by the removal of trees for building etc.

1841-47

The Aboriginal population by Census was -

1850

Merriman's father, the most significant of the Wallaga Lake community founders, died. Fortunately Merriman (Umbarra) was able to maintain the integrity of the community with regard to customs etc.

1860's

Pastoral land was being fenced, preventing access to traditional tribal hunting grounds and ceremonial sites and sometimes fences were damaged, causing friction.

1870's

Miners were staking claims on Mt Dromedary, the sacred mountain. Some contamination of full blood aborigines by white intrusion had commenced. 

1880's

Adapting slowly to white activity, in many cases aiding settlement by way of food and water sources, Yuin people worked at whaling and timber and on farms, but not mining (taboo on sacred sites). They were employed seasonally and in some cases owned land. They became involved in sporting activities, being natural athletes.

The Bega white population was about 1,200 however Aboriginal people were much less numerous and lived in fringe areas of town which persisted for some years. The Aborigines Protection Board was established in NSW.

They sought education so a school was established at Wallaga Lake. 

1890's

Fielded a cricket team which continued for many years. Queen Narelle or Nerelle, wife of Merriman, died. 

At Wallaga Lake the Aborigines Protection Board established 132 hectares, but inhabitants were virtual prisoners and far removed from their normal lifestyle. Prices for all commodities were higher.

While mining was taking gold worth $16,000 from Dromedary, the people at Wallaga Lake were living on $1,200 total per annum.

1900 

The Aborigines Protection Board severely restricted activities and forced Aborigines to be state dependent. After 1909 it forced all able bodied persons off the reserves to become farm laborers and domestic servants.

1904 

King Merriman (Umbarra) of the Black Duck totem died.

1919

Jack Mumbler or Mumbulla (Biamanga) died. He and King Merriman had initiated the last generation of men including Percy Davis, Marram (Murrum) Alf Carter, Bickel (Bukel) Albert Thomas, and Eric Roberts (who died in 1983). 

1917 - 1941

Mr and Mrs Sampi supervised the Wallaga Lake Government Mission station and supplied food and clothing. She taught sewing. child care and nursing and was like a mother. The Sampis issued food, clothing materials and blankets supplied from government stores in exchange for Aboriginal labour. The Sampis left during World War Il. 

The Aborigines at Wallaga Lake didn't move around much and speared fish to supplement food, The fish were grilled on hot coals along with cockles, which popped open to reveal red flesh. Roasted possum was another delicacy captured by cutting toe holes to climb trees. Swans were caught by swimming underwater, aided by reed tube. Fish were attracted by rubbing grease on the hulls or sides of boats or canoes, or caught by hand in the shallows.

The Depression put 85 percent out of work and many returned to the community. Between 1921 and 1939 the population at Wallaga Lake rose from 73 to 159 and by and large, were respected by the white population.

1940's

Seasonal labour involved picking beans, peas and corn, logging and mill work. A common sight at Murrah was "King Billy" Hammond. grandson of Biamanga, dropping in for tea. He lived at Tarraganda in later life and picked corn at Gowings.

The Akolele area was excised from Wallaga Lake Reserve and sold to developers without Aboriginal consent.

1950's

Aboriginal pick and shovel labour was used to initiate the water supply to Bermagui from Mt Dromedary via Couria Creek. Arthur Thomas and Rex Morgan (1916-1977) played Rugby League with Don Wills and other white friends against local district teams. 

1960's

The Aborigines became citizens of their own country, Australia, and thus eligible for social welfare benefits.

Aboriginal people picked beans for Art Riches and were good workers. The houses at Wallaga Lake Reserve were renovated by Bill Crome and Art Riches. 

1970's

Some deterioration in attitude to white government. "King Billy" Hammond died.

Aboriginal people were counted in the census for the first time. Neville Bonner became the first Aboriginal member of any Australian parliament as Senator for Queensland.

Merriman Island in the centre of Wallaga Lake was the first Aboriginal site of significance in NSW to be declared an Aboriginal Place under the National Parks and Wildlife Act. About two hectares in area, it is just across the water from the Wallaga Lake Community, led by Guboo Ted Thomas. Just after World War II, Andy Bond (a veteran of WWI) was removed from his home at Wallaga Lake Heights and given Merriman Island as a place to live - an impossible situation!

In 1976, Guboo Ted Thomas appeared in tribal livery for the Bermagui School Centenary. He subsequently led a campaign to stop logging on Mumbulla Mountain because of intrusion into initiation sites.

1980's

Agreement was reached to establish an 1,100 hectare area known as Biamanga Aboriginal Place to be jointly managed.

In 1983 the Aboriginal Land Councils were set up at Batemans Bay, Mogo, Bodalla, Narooma, Wallaga Lake, Eden and Bega.

Arthur Thomas died in 1989. He was a good mate of Edgar Jaggers and a DMR worker most of his life.

1991 

A development application was submitted to Eurobodalla Shire Council for a cultural centre on Aboriginal land at Wallaga Lake. This centre now  contains displays of culture and history along with guided tours of sites and demonstrations of food and medicines. 

Much of the above information above was sourced from the book "Bermagui - A Century of Features and Families" by Ron Gaha and Judy Hearn

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