Book Online

Indigenous History

The Yorta Yorta people occupy a unique stretch of forest-wetlands that are located in what is now known as the central Murray - Goulburn region. Our lifestyle and culture was based on hunting, fishing and collecting food from the variety of food sources provided by the ancestral lands.

Being river based people however, most of our time was occupied by fishing, as the majority of food that was provided came from the rich network of rivers, lagoons, creeks, and wetlands which are still regarded as the life source and the spirit of the Yorta Yorta Nation. The now irregular floods that occur in this region are regarded by Yorta Yorta people as necessary for the replenishment of the natural food sources and for the survival of the forest-wetlands for the enjoyment of future generations. The survival of the ancestral lands is equally important for the continuity of Yorta Yorta peoples timeless connections with what they believe is theirs by inherent right and with what they continue to assert is something that ‘always was and always will be Yorta Yorta land’ — nothing will ever change that reality for the Yorta Yorta.

The arrival of Europeans, however had a devastating impact on traditional groups such as the Yorta Yorta. Within the first generation of the European invasion, the Yorta Yorta population of some 5-6000 was reduced by 85 per cent. All indications at that time, particularly when viewed against the extent of destruction, is that we would eventually be wiped out as a distinct cultural group. Our ability to endure these forces and to survive as a people is an amazing example of the strength and courage of our ancestors, and a sad reflection on the mindset and brutality of the perpetrators of the scale of destruction that took place within such a short period of time.

The remaining Yorta Yorta population and other tribal groups from neighboring areas were eventually relocated at Maloga Mission on the New South Wales side of the Murray River in 1874. Maloga was eventually closed and the residents were relocated at Cummeragunja Mission in 1888-9 which became the place where the Yorta Yorta were able to regroup after the destruction that took place. It also provided a base for the development of what became the Aboriginal political movement in the 1930s led by some of Australia’s outstanding Indigenous political leaders like Uncle William Cooper and many others.

Other political activity in this period which involved Cummeragunja residents was the 1939 walk off in which the majority of residents packed up and 'walked off' in protest against the living conditions, the leasing of most of the reserve land to a European, and the oppressive laws of the reserve system (Bennett,1991:5).

The Yorta Yorta continued to assert their inherent rights and have shown through oral, documentary, and material evidence, that their social, spiritual, economic and cultural links with the area have never been broken. No Tide of History as it was used to deny the Yorta Yorta their native title claim will ever wash away the long and continued connections that the Yorta continue to hold with their ancestral lands (Yorta Yorta Land Claim, 1984:1).

Connections to country

Scarred Trees – Yorta Yorta people caused scars on trees by removing bark to make canoes, containers and shields and also to build temporary shelters.

Middens – Yorta Yorta people collected and cooked various types of freshwater fishes and shells. Middens are usually thin layers of shell which are the remains of hundreds of meals that have accumulated over thousands of years. Sometimes the middens also contain animal bones, stone tools and Aboriginal burials.

Aboriginal Mounds – Mounds are where Yorta Yorta people lived over long periods of time. Mounds often contain charcoal, burnt clay or stone heat retainers from cooking ovens, animal bones, shells, stone tools and, sometimes, Aboriginal burials.

Flaked Stone Tools – Flaked stone tools were made by hitting a piece of stone often with a pebble. This would remove a sharp piece of stone called a flake. There is no natural stone for making tools in the local area and therefore Yorta Yorta people had to barter their possum rugs and other valuables to neighboring clan groups in exchange for stone and other items that are not present in the area. 

Burial Grounds – Aboriginal burials are sacred areas to all Yorta Yorta people. They are not to be disturbed and are a significant cultural site. Burials are usually found in dunes surrounding lake and river beds. Yorta Yorta have burial sites on country which are hundreds and thousands of years old. Due to the regular flooding of the Barmah forest area it is thought that some original burial grounds have been washed away and may have travelled inland or downstream from where they originally were buried hundreds of years ago.

Surface Scatters – Surface Scatters are usually where Yorta Yorta people camped and can contain a variety of material from stone artefacts, charcoal, animal bone, shell and ochre may be present. They are found near fresh water, rivers or streams where erosion has exposed the historic cultural land surface.

Ground-Edge Axes –  Ground-Edge Axes are stone chopping tools that were used like modern axes. These axes were used for cutting down small trees, chopping wood, removing tree bark for canoes and shelters and many other uses.

Hunting and Gathering – Yorta Yorta people hunters and gatherers. We still kill and collect many different varieties of animals and plants from all areas of our country. Because we are river people fish were and are a major part of our diet. Mammals like Kangaroo are a prized kill and is shared amoung the family and extended family. There are many plants that we use for eating and also making items like baskets. This tradition is still passed down through our elders who are the keepers of our culture.