Moorebank's first inhabitants
Aboriginal people had already inhabited the Australian continent for about 50 000 – 60 000 years before European settlement. Bounded by the Georges River -the Cabrogal Clan of the Dharug Nation lived in the Moorebank area.
The Dharug
The name has been spelt in a variety of ways, including Daruk (the name of the land council), Dharug (the National Park) and Dharruk (the suburb). Their territory extended from the Blue Mountains to the coast, but were mostly in the area we now know as Western Sydney. The name Dharug is actually the native word for Yam, which were an important part of the group's diet. These yams were particularly common on the plains of the Hawksbury-Nepean River system, which was why there was so much trouble between the natives and British in the 1800s as the new arrivals began clearing the river flats, wiping out the yams and planting British crops. The coastal Dharug became known as the Eora, not because it was their name, but because of a cross cultural misunderstanding. When asked by the British to identify themselves, the answer given was "eora", which means "where". Capt. Phillip took that to mean that their tribal name was eora. The name Eora is used in historic documents and books to describe all the Aborigines who lived in the area from Broken Bay to Botany Bay and inland as far as Liverpool and Parramatta.
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Dharug Clans or Bands
These are some of the names of the Darug clans and the area in which they lived; Bediagal - Georges River Bidjigal - Castle Hill Boolbainora - Wentworthville Burraberongal - Richmond Burramattagal - Parramatta |
Cabrogal - Liverpool
Cannemegal (warmuli) - Prospect Cattai - Windsor Gomerrigal (tongara) South Creek, Kurrajong Mulgoa- Penrith/ Mulgoa Tugagal - Toongabbie Wandeandegal- Warrawarry - Eastern Creek clan/ Blacktown. |
Bibliography
1. Darug Tribal Aboriginal Corporation 2018 [online] https://www.darug.sydney/Australia for everyone Sydney 2017 [online] http://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/heritage-aboriginal-clans.html
2. Ensor, Jason Dr. Western Sydney University Digital Humanities Research Group. 2017. A history of Aboriginal Sydney. [online] http://www.historyofaboriginalsydney.edu.au/index.php
3. Sydney Aboriginal Rock Art Engraving. 2017. CSIRO. [online] https://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/Ray.Norris/SydneyRockArt/FAQ.htm
4. Indigenous Regions of Australia Map. 2018. [online] https://www.teachstarter.com/teaching-resource/indigenous-regions-of-australia/
1. Darug Tribal Aboriginal Corporation 2018 [online] https://www.darug.sydney/Australia for everyone Sydney 2017 [online] http://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/heritage-aboriginal-clans.html
2. Ensor, Jason Dr. Western Sydney University Digital Humanities Research Group. 2017. A history of Aboriginal Sydney. [online] http://www.historyofaboriginalsydney.edu.au/index.php
3. Sydney Aboriginal Rock Art Engraving. 2017. CSIRO. [online] https://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/Ray.Norris/SydneyRockArt/FAQ.htm
4. Indigenous Regions of Australia Map. 2018. [online] https://www.teachstarter.com/teaching-resource/indigenous-regions-of-australia/