Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History and Culture
The Dunghutti people have been living in the Macleay valley for at least 6000 years going by the dating of the Clybucca midden. However it is probably longer because the sea level rose to about current levels 6000 years ago and would have drowned archeological evidence of previous coastal settlements.
Aboriginal Sites of Significance in the Macleay Valley are Carrai Waterholes, Long Gully, Clybucca midden , Kinchela Boys Home and Burrel Bulai.
There are middens and a fish trap in the Limeburners Creek Nature Reserve and a Bora Ring at Richardsons Crossing just north of Crescent Head. Along the creeks and on the tablelands there are artefact scatters, scarred trees and axe-grinding grooves. Archaeological sites include burial sites at East Kunderang mythological sites include the landscape of the upper Apsley Gorge; and contact sites encompass the rugged falls country where Dunghutti people staged their final fight against white settlers, as well as sites along Kunderang Brook where brutal massacres took place.
Aboriginal Sites of Significance in the Macleay Valley are Carrai Waterholes, Long Gully, Clybucca midden , Kinchela Boys Home and Burrel Bulai.
There are middens and a fish trap in the Limeburners Creek Nature Reserve and a Bora Ring at Richardsons Crossing just north of Crescent Head. Along the creeks and on the tablelands there are artefact scatters, scarred trees and axe-grinding grooves. Archaeological sites include burial sites at East Kunderang mythological sites include the landscape of the upper Apsley Gorge; and contact sites encompass the rugged falls country where Dunghutti people staged their final fight against white settlers, as well as sites along Kunderang Brook where brutal massacres took place.
Thunghutti Dreaming and other Stories
Kemps Pinnacle told by Victor Shepherd (p. 89) Gondwana Rainforests
The Story of Yarrahapinni told by Bob Dotti and recorded by Laves (p. 95) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories
The Story about the Porcupine told by Doug Scott and recorded by Janet Bolt (p. 96) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories
Nulla Nulla Creek told by Victor Shepherd recorded by Holmer and Holmer (p.96) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati storiesA Story about the Carpet Snake told by Len Duckett recorded by Holmer and Holmer (p.97) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories
The Two Sisters told by Len Ducket recorded by Holmer and Holmer (p.98) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories
The Story of the Bear told by Len Bucket recorded by Holmer and Holmer (p.99) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories
The Story about the Wallaby told by Len Ducket recorded by Holmer and Holmer (p.101-102) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories
Silver King told by Len Ducket recorded by Holmer and Holmer (p.103-106) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories.
A Ghost Story told by Locky Vale recorded by Holmer and Holmer (p. 106-111) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories.
The Story about the Birds told by Locky Vale recorded by Holmer and Holmer (p.112-114) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories
The Gravelly Dog told by Fred Kelly on Freshwater/Saltwater Stories on Pacific Coast http://pacificcoast.com.au/itineraries-and-trails/aboriginal-stories/kempsey-dunghutti/
The King of the Birds told by Fred Kelly on Freshwater/Saltwater Stories on Pacific Coast pacificcoast.com.au/itineraries-and-trails/aboriginal-stories/kempsey-dunghutti/
Kemps Pinnacle told by Victor Shepherd (p. 89) Gondwana Rainforests
The Story of Yarrahapinni told by Bob Dotti and recorded by Laves (p. 95) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories
The Story about the Porcupine told by Doug Scott and recorded by Janet Bolt (p. 96) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories
Nulla Nulla Creek told by Victor Shepherd recorded by Holmer and Holmer (p.96) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati storiesA Story about the Carpet Snake told by Len Duckett recorded by Holmer and Holmer (p.97) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories
The Two Sisters told by Len Ducket recorded by Holmer and Holmer (p.98) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories
The Story of the Bear told by Len Bucket recorded by Holmer and Holmer (p.99) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories
The Story about the Wallaby told by Len Ducket recorded by Holmer and Holmer (p.101-102) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories
Silver King told by Len Ducket recorded by Holmer and Holmer (p.103-106) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories.
A Ghost Story told by Locky Vale recorded by Holmer and Holmer (p. 106-111) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories.
The Story about the Birds told by Locky Vale recorded by Holmer and Holmer (p.112-114) Dhanggati grammar and dictionary with Dhanggati stories
The Gravelly Dog told by Fred Kelly on Freshwater/Saltwater Stories on Pacific Coast http://pacificcoast.com.au/itineraries-and-trails/aboriginal-stories/kempsey-dunghutti/
The King of the Birds told by Fred Kelly on Freshwater/Saltwater Stories on Pacific Coast pacificcoast.com.au/itineraries-and-trails/aboriginal-stories/kempsey-dunghutti/
Post Colonial History
European settlement was opposed by the Thunghutti people and the resulting massacres are documented in Blood on the Wattle (Elder 2003) and Baal Belbora (Blomfield 1987). Aboriginal people were gradually pushed into the Aboriginal Reserves at Bellbrook, Greenhill and Burnt Bridge, although Aboriginal people have lived at many places along the Macleay River as they describe here, and also at Grassy Head. Many worked as stockmen and this is particularly well documented for Kunderang Station (Harrison 2004)
European settlement was opposed by the Thunghutti people and the resulting massacres are documented in Blood on the Wattle (Elder 2003) and Baal Belbora (Blomfield 1987). Aboriginal people were gradually pushed into the Aboriginal Reserves at Bellbrook, Greenhill and Burnt Bridge, although Aboriginal people have lived at many places along the Macleay River as they describe here, and also at Grassy Head. Many worked as stockmen and this is particularly well documented for Kunderang Station (Harrison 2004)
Stolen Generation
The Bringing them Home report was the result of an inquiry by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission into the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and was tabled in May 1997.
The public and political debate about the removal of children was marked by intense political activity since the mid-to-late 1980s. In 1992 Prime Minister Keating acknowledged that 'we took the children from their mothers' at a speech in Redfern. In 1994 legal action was commenced in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. These children who were removed came to be known as the Stolen Generations.
Boys were commonly taken to the Kinchela Boys Home (in the Macleay valley) and girls to the Cootamundra Girls Home where there were many reports of abuse.
The Bringing them Home report was the result of an inquiry by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission into the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and was tabled in May 1997.
The public and political debate about the removal of children was marked by intense political activity since the mid-to-late 1980s. In 1992 Prime Minister Keating acknowledged that 'we took the children from their mothers' at a speech in Redfern. In 1994 legal action was commenced in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. These children who were removed came to be known as the Stolen Generations.
Boys were commonly taken to the Kinchela Boys Home (in the Macleay valley) and girls to the Cootamundra Girls Home where there were many reports of abuse.
Freedom Ride
The Freedom Ride, led by Charles Perkins, visited Kempsey Burnt Bridge Mission and Kempsey Pool. There is a memorial plaque at Kempsey Pool.
The Freedom Ride, led by Charles Perkins, visited Kempsey Burnt Bridge Mission and Kempsey Pool. There is a memorial plaque at Kempsey Pool.
Land Rights
The first successful mainland land rights claim was won by the Dunghutti at Crescent Head.
The first successful mainland land rights claim was won by the Dunghutti at Crescent Head.
Language
Dunghutti language and grammar have been collected and studied (Lissarrague 2007) and the language is now being taught in several Macleay Valley schools.
Dunghutti language and grammar have been collected and studied (Lissarrague 2007) and the language is now being taught in several Macleay Valley schools.
People
Aboriginal people associated with the Macleay valley who have achieved recognition include: Emma Jane Callaghan, Pat Dixon, Ray Kelly, Burnum Burnum
Aboriginal people associated with the Macleay valley who have achieved recognition include: Emma Jane Callaghan, Pat Dixon, Ray Kelly, Burnum Burnum
Dunghutti-Ngaku Aboriginal Art Gallery
Dunghutti-Ngaku Aboriginal Art Gallery exhibits fine art by established and emerging Dunghutti artists.
Dunghutti-Ngaku Aboriginal Art Gallery exhibits fine art by established and emerging Dunghutti artists.