Traditional Communities Traditional Wiradjuri communities can only be inferred from early European observations, (44). Two types of settlement: small camps of extended households or bands and larger village like community camps existed. One such household group of about twenty-five used to camp seasonally at Bullenbong on their hunting and gathering cycle, (45). Larger community semi-permanent camps appear to have occurred around the great wetlands and floodplains at Ganmain/Deepwater and Berry Jerry/Old Man Creek areas, with meeting places called Cologee and Qualogee on Ganmain and Berry Jerry Stations, (46). Small family groups appear to have lived around present day Wagga Wagga which was a great meeting place with major gatherings probably occurring every one to two years (47) (48) and being the area used as a camping and swimming place in between times, (49) (50). Up to one thousand people were reported to meet here, (51)(52). These places were supported by animal, fish and bird sanctuaries set aside on the plains, billabongs and in the vicinity of the Murrumbidgee River. There was an emu sanctuary at Eunonyhareenyah (Kurrajong Plain), a pelican, swan, crane, curlew and duck sanctuary at Parken Pregan Lagoon. Miles of swamps at Tooyal (Euberta), Ganmain and Kockibitoo (Currawarna) were breeding grounds of water birds and fish. Gobbagumbalin lagoon was a favourite fishing place, (53). It was near Gobbagumbalin Lagoon that Bulmagarra, a “minar” or “carer” resided in traditional times, (54). Bulmagarra was “minar (of the) nurrang gungali” (river crossing), presumably a regular crossing place for Wiradjuri and later Europeans. As the Wiradjuri population increased these great gatherings were held for consideration of general laws, to settle disputes, for new totems (budyan) to be chosen, new animal and river sanctuaries provided for and new areas of country to be looked after, (55).
Traditional Practices There are many references and publications on the traditional practices of the Indigenous people in Australia. Many of these practices were common to the local Wiradjuri and to many other areas. Local details only, where available, have been used in this study. Readers are referred to the recommended reading list for greater detail. Shelter Small types of bough shelters appear to have been widely used by family households while travelling about, (56). They had a simple frame constructed by placing a few boughs or saplings tightly in the ground in a semi circular form, the upper parts tied together and crowned with leaves, bark or grass, (57). James Gormly observed several of these at what is now the Wiradjuri Reserve area in 1845. Habitations in the Yass area were sheets of bark supported by props and placed windward, (58). (The early European shepherds often imitated these shelters which they had seen the Wiradjuri erect. Charles Tompson employed Wiradjuri to strip bark and erect huts at Eunonyhareenyah and the only building erected at Best’s Wagga Wagga Station from 1832 to 1846 was a similar hut.) (59). A small camp fire burned near the entry of these shelters for heating and cooking. There is evidence of such fires occurring along the river flood plain particularly at the base of the sandhills between Wagga Wagga and Oura, (60). Larger communal semi-permanent camps may have existed along Old Man Creek, Bullenbong Plain and the Ganmain/Deepwater
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