Topics: Culture

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1897 - North Coastal - view

They knew it as ‘Kihimatta’, which in their local dialect meant a “sign of sleeping places”.

1897 - North West - view

On carefully studying the initiatory rites of the Wattung, Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi tribes…

1897 - North West - view

Burbung of the Darkinung tribes

1897 - North West - view

John Barber informs Mathews about cultural heritage, especially Rock Carvings

1897 - North West - view

Gooburra is the last known “full blood” from the Hawkesbury-Hunter ranges to undergo traditional male initiation

1897 - North West - view

Darkinoong

1897 - North West - view

Darkinyung

1897 - North West - view

Mathews finally settles on the spelling “Darkinung” for publication. Mathews writes that all the cultural information he obtains is: “by personal inquiries among the few old natives who still speak their own dialect

1897 - North West - view

Darkinung expressions and grammar

1897 - North West - view

Of Darkinung country, Darkinung people, and Darkinung culture Mathews writes: “One of the principal dialects was the Darkinung, which was spoken by the natives occupying the country on the southern side of the Hunter River, from Jerry’s Plains downward toward Maitland, extending southerly to Wollombi Brook, Putty Creek, and including the Macdonald, Colo, and Hawkesbury Rivers

1897 - North West - view

Charley Clark, native of Broke speaks Dharkinung language, [paints] hands in cave

1897 - North West - view

Both are fully initiated men and have known kinship and personal totem names: Charlie is Ippai, grey kangaroo; Joe is Kubbi, bandicoot

1897 - North West - view

Darkinung bora initiation ceremony (Burbung)

1898 - North West - view

The paintings in the cave consist of 40 two-hand stencils and one boomerang

1898 - South West - view

the roof is much blackened and begrimed by soot of camp fires; and judging from this …probably been the haunt of Aborigines for several generations.”The paintings in the cave had 42 hand stencils 1 boomerang all stenciled in white ochre

1898 - South West - view

Darug language

1899 - North Coastal - view

The Manly News , 10 March 1899 reports “Twenty years ago, [Alderman] Adam Russell [who had a contracting business] says he unearthed the skeletons of Aboriginals on the flat near Fairy Bower steps, and thinks it must have been a burying place for our dusky predecessors.”

1899 - North West - view

Aboriginal pottery. A “blackfellow’s water-bottle of curious design”

1900s - North Coastal - view

Aboriginal people reported still living at Quakers Hat Bay near Beauty Point, Middle Harbour. (D Keed, 28 May 1984, Manuscript, Local History section, North Sydney Library) Another important area where the northern clans gathered is Narrabeen Lagoon.

1900 - North West - view

Awabakal dialect