Bombay Display Board: First Nations
The text, images and references of the 'First Nations' column as featured on the display board at Bombay Reserve.
For thousands of years before European settlement and the arrival of ‘white fellas’ or ‘gabaa’, the country around Bombay was the lands of the ‘manggaadawalbandja yuin’ Aboriginal people. Today they are known as the Walbunja peoples of Batemans Bay and the Mankata-Djuwin of Braidwood.
They share the Dhurga language with the Yuin peoples of the South Coast, often travelling between countries for corroborees ‘bunaan’, hunting, trading tools and food. It’s believed the original Dhurga name for the Shoalhaven River is ‘wari’ (pronounced ‘worry’), and the River in this region was likely a periodic meeting place between Yuin peoples and other mobs to the west.
Book by Brinja-Yuin siblings revitalizing the Dhurga language.
Credit: P Ellis, K Boyenga and W Donovan 2020
The district around Braidwood was traditionally named ‘wigwigly’ meaning ‘plenty of fur’, alluding to the abundant supply of food and clothing from possum ‘guungara’, koala ‘guraban’, and kangaroo ‘buru’ in the area. Colonisation in the early 19th century, however, brought conflicts and disease which devastated local Aboriginal populations.
Umbarra, the Black Duck, is totem and protector of the Yuin Peoples, respected and protected by them in return.
Credit: C Payne
In Aboriginal culture, totems connect people on a spiritual level, providing a deep connection to their tribe and traditional lands. The Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa) or ‘wambaara’ is the totem for the entire Yuin Nation, although many Aboriginal people also receive a personal totem at birth. These spirit animals are known as ‘moodjingarl’ which translates to ‘my friend’.
Yuin Dreamtime stories tell of Dharamah, the Great Spirit, creating the Earth, heavens and all nature. Dharamah also created Ngardi (woman ‘ngaranggal’), followed by Tunku (man ‘gimbanya’), gifting them trees ‘nunbal’ and rocks ‘bura’ - everything needed for survival. The two beings learnt how to use their gifts to create shelter, food, medicine, tools and fire ‘ganji’ to rejuvenate the land. These sacred lessons became central to local lore, shared through stories, songs and dances over generations.
Sketch of a corroboree at Lake George around 1835.
Credit: WR Govett
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First Nations References:
- Special thanks to Kelly Boyenga and her sister who kindly consulted on the Dhurga language componentsof the Bombay Display Board in November 2024. The cover art of their book is by Waine Donovan.
- P Ellis, K Boyenga and W Donovan, 2020,The Dhurga Dictionary and Learner's Grammar, Aboriginal Studies Press, Australia
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SBS, 2017, Our Dreaming: The Indigenous link between the physical and spiritual world, retrieved 11/2/2025 from <https://www.sbs.com.au/voices/article/our-dreaming-the-indigenous-link-between-the-physical-and-spiritual-world/c1ttdtwrc>
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Black Duck trade, 2025, Our Story, retrieved 11/2/2025 from <https://blackducktrade.com.au/our-story/>
- The Batemans Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council also reviewed the text in June 2025
This Bombay Landcare Information Board project was proudly co-funded by Bendigo Community Bank Braidwood, WaterNSW
Bombay Landcare Group and Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Council. With Special thanks to Sheep Station Creek Landcare's Christine Payne and Michael Gill for illustrations and design. Artwork © 2025 C Payne & M Gill. All rights reserved.