Aboriginal Life Brochure

Experience Nyoongar Culture in Kings Park

The Dreamtime is the Aboriginal understanding of the world and its creation. According to the local Aboriginal Life Nyoongars, a mythological Rainbow Snake called Waugal entered the Wandju Wandju Nidja Nyoongar Boodjar ground where Parliament House now Welcome to Nyoongar Country stands. The snake made its way through Mount Eliza, emerging at the spring, which feeds the Kennedy Fountain, and continued on to the sea, so creating the Swan River.

Book an Aboriginal Cultural Education program with Kings Park Education for your school. Phone (08) 9480 3638 or visit our website www.bgpa.wa.gov. au/education for more information.

Fraser Avenue, Kings Park, Western Australia 6005 Tel: (08) 9480 3600 • Fax: (08) 9322 5064 See artwork on the Lotterywest Federation Walkway Email: [email protected] • www.bgpa.wa.gov.au as part of the Boodja Gnarning Walk. The Boodja Gnarning Walk offers a unique experience that highlights the diverse methods of survival used by Nyoongar people to live off the land in the southwest of Western Australia. (see map overleaf) RO:21283_0313

Illustration: R. Walley

for Indigenous cultural performances. A great place to just sit and ponder. and sit just to place great A performances. cultural Indigenous for fire-danger risk. Groups must book. must Groups risk. fire-danger Western Australia. Telephone (08) 9481 7082. 9481 (08) Telephone Australia. Western

Nyoongars is a stone amphitheatre located in a bush garden setting used used setting garden bush a in located amphitheatre stone a is Nyoongars 9 am – 4 pm. Closed Mondays, all February, and days of high of days and February, all Mondays, Closed pm. 4 – am 9 itor’s understanding and experience of Indigenous art and craft from from craft and art Indigenous of experience and understanding itor’s vis

The Beedawong Meeting Place (meaning Celebration) designed by by designed Celebration) (meaning Place Meeting Beedawong The learn all about their natural environment. Open Tuesday to Sunday Sunday to Tuesday Open environment. natural their about all learn Located below the Kaarta Gar-up Lookout, this gallery will enrich the the enrich will gallery this Lookout, Gar-up Kaarta the below Located

plore, climb, wade through creeks, build cubbies and dams and and dams and cubbies build creeks, through wade climb, plore, ex

The Beedawong Meeting Place Meeting Beedawong The Aboriginal Art Gallery Art Aboriginal

6 2

children connect with nature – where they are free to play and and play to free are they where – nature with connect children

scarred these trees. these scarred Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park is a bush discovery area where area discovery bush a is Park Kings Naturescape Tinto Rio Canning Riverpark, with the Darling Range as a backdrop. a as Range Darling the with Riverpark, Canning

Located in the Banksia Garden. Discover why Aboriginal people people Aboriginal why Discover Garden. Banksia the in Located

magnificent views, incorporating both the city skyline and the Swan the and skyline city the both incorporating views, magnificent Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park Kings Naturescape Tinto Rio

Located on Fraser Avenue, this Lookout offers one of Kings Park’s most most Park’s Kings of one offers Lookout this Avenue, Fraser on Located Scartree Scartree

express this aspect of Aboriginal culture in a unique and interesting way. interesting and unique a in culture Aboriginal of aspect this express

Kaarta Gar-up Lookout Gar-up Kaarta

the magnificent trees of the Swan Coastal Plain. Coastal Swan the of trees magnificent the temporary shelters built by Nyoongars and provides an opportunity to to opportunity an provides and Nyoongars by built shelters temporary

artwork celebrates the Centenary of Federation, Aboriginal Culture and and Culture Aboriginal Federation, of Centenary the celebrates artwork The mia-mia structure draws upon the key architectural elements of the the of elements architectural key the upon draws structure mia-mia The

ceremonial and dreaming area for Aboriginal males. Aboriginal for area dreaming and ceremonial

Take a breathtaking walk through the treetops. This striking landscape landscape striking This treetops. the through walk breathtaking a Take beyond.

Lotterywest Federation Walkway Federation Lotterywest at the base of Kings Park, known as Goonininup, was an important important an was Goonininup, as known Park, Kings of base the at

structure marks the entry and will entice you to explore what lies lies what explore to you entice will and entry the marks structure 4

some of the other bushland fauna. An eye-catching open mia-mia mia-mia open eye-catching An fauna. bushland other the of some

Indigenous people of the southwest of Western Australia. The area area The Australia. Western of southwest the of people Indigenous

in the south-west of Western Australia. Western of south-west the in

millions of years. If you are lucky you might see a bobtail lizard or or lizard bobtail a see might you lucky are you If years. of millions

the highest point of Kings Park. Nyoongar is the generic term for for term generic the is Nyoongar Park. Kings of point highest the diverse methods of survival used by Nyoongar people to live off the land land the off live to people Nyoongar by used survival of methods diverse

wildflowers, trees and birdlife living in the wild as they have done for for done have they as wild the in living birdlife and trees wildflowers,

The Boodja Gnarning Walk offers a unique experience that highlights the the highlights that experience unique a offers Walk Gnarning Boodja The Katta or Kaarta Gar-up, two of the many names for Mount Eliza, Eliza, Mount for names many the of two Gar-up, Kaarta or Katta This walk offers an encounter with Western Australia’s famous famous Australia’s Western with encounter an offers walk This

Boodja Gnarning Walk Gnarning Boodja

Kings Park Bushland Nature Trail Trail Nature Bushland Park Kings

3 For thousands of years Aboriginal people have been visiting Mooro Mooro visiting been have people Aboriginal years of thousands For 8

a n

d d

o s

h o

f l

t all conflicts since the Boer War. Boer the since conflicts all e

r o a

. e

c p l a

gave their lives serving with the Australian armed forces and services in services and forces armed Australian the with serving lives their gave

t i o c n e

l . . .

Indigenous Australians was unveiled here, commemorating those who who those commemorating here, unveiled was Australians Indigenous

f o a

e p c l a

On 9 December 2000, Australia’s first State War Memorial for for Memorial War State first Australia’s 2000, December 9 On

. .

e Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial War Islander Strait Torres and Aboriginal

p e c l

Entry on May Drive May on Entry a c f e o

Kings Park Kings

Eucalyptus Carpark Eucalyptus

Rio Tinto Naturescape Tinto Rio

Botanic Garden Carpark Garden Botanic

Lotterywest Federation Walkway Federation Lotterywest

Short Vista Short

Law Walk Law

Soft Surface Paths Surface Soft

Cliff Walk Cliff

Nyinning Nyinning Hard Surface Paths Surface Hard

MAY DRIVE MAY

Yorkas Yorkas

Boodja Gnarning Walk Gnarning Boodja Bushland Nature Trail Nature Bushland

FRASER AVENUE FRASER

WADJUK WAY WADJUK

FORREST DRIVE FORREST

Willywagtail

Wadjuk Carpark Wadjuk Memorial

Pioneer Women’s Pioneer

LOVEKIN DRIVE LOVEKIN

Djitti djitti Djitti DNA Tower DNA

1 Drop off zone only zone off Drop

2 Long Vista Long Statue Pavilion

Shop

Forrest Wildflower Wildflower

Garden Art Gallery Gallery Art

Gallery Gallery

Garden Lord Lord

Banksia Banksia Aboriginal

Kings Park Kings Acacia Conservation Garden Conservation

Aspects of of Aspects

Forrest Carpark Forrest

Entry

Walk

Gija Jumulu Gija 3

Garden

Garden Garden

Ceremonial Ceremonial

Tuart Lawn Tuart

Water Botanic Botanic

Tuart Forest Flora Forest Tuart Meeting Place Meeting

Beedawong Beedawong

Roe Carpark Roe Mt Eliza Lookout Eliza Mt Starts here Starts

Gnarning Walk Gnarning

Boodja Boodja

Elevated walkway Elevated

Memorial Roe Gardens Roe 7 Swan Canning Riverpark Canning Swan

State War War State

Glass Bridge Glass Place of Reflection of Place

Pavilion

Marlee Marlee

in Kings Park and Botanic Garden Botanic and Park Kings in

Mooro Katta Mooro Aboriginal Cultural Places to Visit Visit to Places Cultural Aboriginal Experience Nyoongar Culture in Kings Park

Book an Aboriginal Cultural Education program with Kings Park Education for Visit the Aboriginal your school. Art Gallery to purchase Phone (08) 9480 3638 or visit our original Aboriginal artwork by website www.bgpa.wa.gov. Australian artists. Art is central au/education for more to Aboriginal culture. It records information. the beliefs and stories from the Dreaming. Phone: (08) 9481 7082 www.aboriginalgallery.com.au See artwork on the Lotterywest Federation Walkway Open: 10.30 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday. as part of the Boodja Gnarning Walk. The 11.00 am to 4.00 pm weekends and public holidays. Boodja Gnarning Walk offers a unique experience that highlights the diverse methods of survival used by Nyoongar people to live off the land in the southwest of Western Australia. (see map overleaf)

Fraser Avenue, West Perth, Western Australia 6005 Tel: (08) 9480 3600 • Fax: (08) 9322 5064

Email: [email protected] • Internet: www.bgpa.wa.gov.au RO:21283_0313

Illustration: R. Walley

available at Aspects of Kings Park. Kings of Aspects at available

The Beedawong Meeting Place (meaning Celebration) designed by by designed Celebration) (meaning Place Meeting Beedawong The learn all about their natural environment. Open Tuesday to Sunday Sunday to Tuesday Open environment. natural their about all learn is now permanently closed. A selection of Aboriginal art is is art Aboriginal of selection A closed. permanently now is gallery The

explore, climb, wade through creeks, build cubbies and dams and and dams and cubbies build creeks, through wade climb, explore,

The Beedawong Meeting Place Meeting Beedawong The Aboriginal Art Gallery Art Aboriginal

6 2

and play to free are they where – nature with connect children

scarred these trees. these scarred Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park is a bush discovery area where where area discovery bush a is Park Kings Naturescape Tinto Rio Canning Riverpark, with the Darling Range as a backdrop. backdrop. a as Range Darling the with Riverpark, Canning

Located in the Banksia Garden. Discover why Aboriginal people people Aboriginal why Discover Garden. Banksia the in Located

magnificent views, incorporating both the city skyline and the Swan Swan the and skyline city the both incorporating views, magnificent Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park Kings Naturescape Tinto Rio

Located on Fraser Avenue, this Lookout offers one of Kings Park’s most most Park’s Kings of one offers Lookout this Avenue, Fraser on Located Scartree Scartree

express this aspect of Aboriginal culture in a unique and interesting way. interesting and unique a in culture Aboriginal of aspect this express

Kaarta Gar-up Lookout Gar-up Kaarta

ceremonial and dreaming area for Aboriginal males. Aboriginal for area dreaming and ceremonial

Take a breathtaking walk through the treetops. This striking landscape landscape striking This treetops. the through walk breathtaking a Take beyond.

Lotterywest Federation Walkway Federation Lotterywest at the base of Kings Park, known as Goonininup, was an important important an was Goonininup, as known Park, Kings of base the at

structure marks the entry and will entice you to explore what lies lies what explore to you entice will and entry the marks structure 4

some of the other bushland fauna. An eye-catching open mia-mia mia-mia open eye-catching An fauna. bushland other the of some

Indigenous people of the southwest of Western Australia. The area area The Australia. Western of southwest the of people Indigenous

in the south-west of Western Australia. Australia. Western of south-west the in

millions of years. If you are lucky you might see a bobtail lizard or or lizard bobtail a see might you lucky are you If years. of millions

wildflowers, trees and birdlife living in the wild as they have done for for done have they as wild the in living birdlife and trees wildflowers,

Boodja Gnarning Walk Gnarning Boodja

Kings Park Bushland Nature Trail Trail Nature Bushland Park Kings

3 For thousands of years Aboriginal people have been visiting Mooro Mooro visiting been have people Aboriginal years of thousands For 8

a n

d d

h o

f l

all conflicts since the Boer War. Boer the since conflicts all e

r o a

. e

c p l a

gave their lives serving with the Australian armed forces and services in in services and forces armed Australian the with serving lives their gave

t i o c n e

l . . .

Indigenous Australians was unveiled here, commemorating those who who those commemorating here, unveiled was Australians Indigenous

o a

e p c l a

On 9 December 2000, Australia’s first State War Memorial for for Memorial War State first Australia’s 2000, December 9 On

. .

e Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial War Islander Strait Torres and Aboriginal

p e c l

Entry on May Drive May on Entry a

c f e o

Kings Park Kings

Eucalyptus Carpark Eucalyptus

Rio Tinto Naturescape Tinto Rio

Botanic Garden Carpark Garden Botanic

Lotterywest Federation Walkway Federation Lotterywest

Short Vista Short

Law Walk Law

Soft Surface Paths Surface Soft

Cliff Walk Cliff

Nyinning Nyinning Hard Surface Paths Surface Hard

MAY DRIVE MAY

Yorkas Yorkas

Boodja Gnarning Walk Gnarning Boodja Bushland Nature Trail Nature Bushland

FRASER AVENUE FRASER

WADJUK WAY WADJUK

FORREST DRIVE FORREST

Willywagtail

Wadjuk Carpark Wadjuk Memorial

Pioneer Women’s Pioneer

LOVEKIN DRIVE LOVEKIN

Djitti djitti Djitti DNA Tower DNA

1 Drop off zone only zone off Drop

2 Long Vista Long Statue Pavilion

Shop

Forrest Wildflower Wildflower

Garden

Gallery Gallery

Garden Lord Lord

Banksia Banksia

Kings Park Kings Acacia Conservation Garden Conservation

Aspects of of Aspects

Forrest Carpark Forrest

Entry

Walk

Gija Jumulu Gija

Garden

Garden Garden

Ceremonial Ceremonial

Tuart Lawn Tuart

Water Botanic Botanic

ts here ts Star

Tuart Forest Flora Forest Tuart

Meeting Place Meeting

rning Walk rning Gna Beedawong Beedawong

Boodja

Roe Carpark Roe

Mt Eliza Lookout Eliza Mt Elevated walkway Elevated

Memorial Roe Gardens Roe 7 Swan Canning Riverpark Canning Swan

State War War State

Glass Bridge Glass Place of Reflection of Place

Pavilion

Marlee Marlee

in Kings Park and Botanic Garden Botanic and Park Kings in

Mooro Katta Mooro Aboriginal Cultural Places to Visit Visit to Places Cultural Aboriginal t s f Time to collec seeds and bulb or food.

e n

Tuart Marri

Eucalyptus Corymbia calophylla s

gomphocephala h Known as the medicine tree, the red gum which oozes from the marri e

The Tuart is the contains tannin, a known antisceptic agent. The liquid gum was o a

. tallest tree on the traditionally used as a plaster for sores and wounds to prevent bleeding, k s Swan Coastal infection and flies. For the treatment of stomach conditions, such as

Kondil s t

diarrhoea and dysentry, small quantities of the dried gum or kino were Plain, providing Sheoak o an important eaten, or dissolved in water. Marri blossom, which was collected and t o Allocasuarina habitat for fauna. soaked in water to make a honey-sweet beverage, numbit, was relished by u

r fraseriana r It was known by the the Nyoongars. d During Makuru the male n

o early settlers as the

Sheoak is in full flower with y

l Mt Eliza Gum. Trees were scarred by

Goomal a rusty brown hue. The e l

b Aboriginal people who removed the bark or

Common Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecula l

o branchlets were chewed to

timber to make containers, shields and to w g Possums usually nest in tree hollows and feed on leaves, quench thirst and an infusion i build temporary shelters.

flowers, fruits and insects. Possum fur was spun into long strands -

d of the bark was used to treat b

for belts and bands. The meat would then be cooked in hot diarrhoea. The wood was used for o

Kardar coals or ashes and eaten. coolamons and other water carriers. r o t Gould’s Monitor Lizard Varanus gouldii

e Goannas or monitor lizards were

Kulbardi Yongar n readily caught during the day (except m Magpie Gymnorhina tibiceri Kangaroo , i in winter). When caught they were

i t The loud flute-like carolling is the distinctive song of Kangaroos were once commonly seen in treated in a precise ritual before t the magpie. According to the Nyoongar story the Kings Park but urbanisation has driven them ’ s being cooked in the fire; the legs s magpie got its white feathers after fighting with the out in recent decades. Nyoongars collectively

t were broken and curled over the belly i crow. The crow threw the magpie into a hot fire hunted kangaroos by herding them using fire, t so that the heat did not cause the

i s

and the white ash streaked his feathers white. loud shouting and beating the bush to drive the m n dead goanna to stand up. Even to this day crows and magpies are never animals to their death over the steep escarpment

e a

friendly to each other! e of Kaarta Gar-up. This annual drive (battue)

Poolgarla provided a bountiful meat supply for the t

m o

Bull Banksia Banksia grandis gathering clans. Kangaroos were highly

’

g The flowers were sucked for nectar valued for their nutritious meat; skins

n u

i or soaked in water to make a mildly were made into cloaks and bags,

intoxicating honey sweet beverage sinews used for binding; bones for n t

t known as mangite. The dried fruiting nose-bones and r

cones were used as firesticks and were n Season a teeth used to f o m nd The Autu the Seaso n o a h carried under their kangaroo skin cloaks in f make scrapers.

d. Cooler w t c winter to provide a ready source of fire and dulthoo eather. T ‘ A i me of

warmth. cour nd ts k s ges a hip ce ce. marria remoni e n e e s. a i c es ol April - May n p d T f A ir he g g o e F n th ir a

a o h C st s c o r a a . Djeran l Ra Se te g Ti d i n m n o

M e rs ki an s h a a h e d a

t g c t o n m r o w n d o l tr e d n o oo a a t t . a y t ve w h r N f J l e e . o M u t it F y t o h e m r r - n r a u in w t m d i u d e M e la e l h y r s it S n t n t y a r d e d n u a - r S t a h l n o re y e o n J u a c h d u k n g l l u s e l i r u t a o i h Y i l S u n t c e l n e e S b g s . B e r . h a y e a T r n u e F r a s . O The Six Nyoongar

H T D

h o e t e

a F r c S n i r Seasons. d s e e t f n

s . d S o o m b s

r u B s y n e T m a l . o e

R b m s o a s i

m i i h a a m r e r e r e p e n e A e e a x t S . t t r r

g i r b Bal a e a e . r l a o p e e e n l h

a s - i t m w d e r Grasstree d e k d t o j d a

m t J y S n t h n w s Xanthorrhoea s e e a a a o r s D - s g s

g S u n e o a S n r e e t in i k preissii c a u a a a f s e s

m l e o ro o a R o o m n u d c e Balgas possibly supplied the h c c f b o r g n e t Kwonnat h f y co B ll u u . o most resources of all plants used by s ib th e n fi Black Wattle h e e A S o s e i tu rn Yo K e t lp l Nyoongars. Flowering stems provided c a u a Th p e l e Acacia saligna e h k t n m ng c h er io g. O bara n s both edible nectar and structural supports . n ct Co in c t an ob er ra Flowers June to October and d e b t

r f for shelters. Dry stems were used for fire - Novem o provides a good source of Bardi or o sticks. The trunk exuded a resin, which Witchetty grubs. The soft green r t Nyoongars made into glue with charcoal The Wild and flo n o

wer Seaso seeds of many acacia species were and kangaroo dung, useful for bonding parts t h o e e Season o reasing. roasted and eaten in the pods. Ripe

t v f B ec

of tools together. Thatch for shelters and bedding irth. Rain is d seeds could be eaten raw or o T s was harvested from leaf fronds - the base of which here are ers. ground into a flour and used for carpets of wildflow

m was edible. A decaying balga trunk provides a

‘damper’ (Seeds of some species a

rich source of edible Bardi grubs. n

o are toxic).

Djiridji Female h

e Ngolark Zamia u

Warrdong White-tailed Black Cockatoo n

m i

Macrozamia fraseri Australian Raven Calyptorhynchus latirostris t t

This ancient plant is a Corvus coronoides Also known as Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo.

s relic of the dinosaur era.

Nyoongar society was divided into two These large seed eating birds are often m

t The Zamia, a cycad, is a non- totemic groups symbolised by the black identified by their harsh wailing cries. They i

flowering, and cone bearing Raven and the white cockatoo. are often seen tearing open thick woody seed s ,

s plant. The female plant has pods such as Marri nuts to get to the seed.

r pineapple-like cones containing p

e Wonil large red seeds known as by-yu o Peppermint Tree s w that are poisonous to eat as Jarrah s o Agonis flexuosa Eucalyptus marginata l experienced by the crew of u

f Vlamingh’s ship, who visited in Belongs to the myrtle These straight majestic hardwood trees, once m

family, and has a distinctive known as Swan River Mahogany are uniquely s

e 1697. Nyoongars would soak

e odour, especially when the Western Australian. They flower from

the red seeds or bury them in a r

pits for up to four weeks to leaves are crushed. The leaves September to February and provide a rich n T would be crushed in their hands source of nectar for bees, birds and d

leach the toxins before eating

s then the vapour was inhaled to clear the nose; or the possums. The fruits were strung together either raw or roasted the outer k a hands and leaves were rubbed briskly together and as necklaces and hair ornaments; the

red covering. Male a

placed on the chest to relieve congestion. wood was made into spear n

t throwers to increase the distance g

s a i a spear could be thrown. Mudja r r

Christmas Tree o h

o C Nuytsia floribunda

Bobtail s

Tiliqua Rugosa Traditionally regarded by Nyoongars . e as the tree of the dead (ghost bush) h Many species of reptiles where disembodied spirits of recently t were eaten during the warmer months because they deceased persons ‘rested on the branches’ n en route to the island of the dead ‘beyond the western sea’.

e were relatively easy to catch When the mudja was in blossom, it was a sign to h as they escaped fire.

move towards the coast. W

Illustrations: J. Blyth, P. Free, S. Tingay and R. Walley ime to c fledglings yfish and tor Photos: BGPA T ollect bird’s eggs, , frogs, cra toises.