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Umbarra, or King Merriman (d. 1904) was an Aboriginal elder of
the Djirringanj/Yuin people of the Bermagui area on the South Coast of New South
Wales.
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Although Aboriginal people traditionally did not have
kings or chiefs, only elders, the white colonial powers used often to
grant king plates to certain elders, hence the moniker King.
He lived on Merriman Island, in the middle of Wallaga
Lake, while his people lived on the shores of the lake. Umbarra was
believed to have clairvoyant abilities, and communicated with a black
duck, his moojingarl, which forewarned him of forthcoming
dangers.
Many legends now exist about Umbarra and his moojingarl.
One day it told him of a group of warriors coming from the far south to
do battle. King Merriman remained on the island while the other men took
the women and children to a place of safety and then hid in the reeds.
The first to sight the approaching warriors the King warned his men who
fought a fierce battle but lost. The opposing tribesmen then set out for
the island. King Merriman threw powerful spears, and a boomerang which
severed the arms and heads of his opponents before returning to him, but
it was not enough. |
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He then turned himself into a whirlwind and flew off. He passed
over the fierce Kiola tribe and their wise men correctly divined his presence
and that it meant the defeat of the Wallaga people and the advance of another
tribe. King Merriman journeyed on to the Shoalhaven tribe to warn them but the
Kiola tribe defeated the invaders and the King, whose power was finished, stayed
for a time at the Shoalhaven then travelled away.
General access to Merriman Island is forbidden due to its great
significance for Indigenous people – it was the first place to be gazetted as
an Aboriginal site. A focus of tribal culture, the island is associated with the
story of King Merriman, widely known among the Yuin Aborigines of the south
coast.
Today, the Yuin operate the Umbarra Cultural Centre near the
Lake. The fomer Wallaga Lake National Park is incorporated into Gulaga National
Park.
See also Indigenous History,
Indigenous Places
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