Image: Entrance to a Harbour, with Aborigines in a mia-mia, ca. 1845. This oil painting by an unknown artist, shows the Illawarra coast line with Aboriginal people in the foreground.
Source: Dixson Library, State Library of New South Wales
Source: Dixson Library, State Library of New South Wales
Above is a short video on Illawarra's Aboriginal history by Harrison Vesey.
Source: https://youtu.be/TOVtEQixShU
Source: https://youtu.be/TOVtEQixShU
Resources for Information about the Aboriginal People of the Illawarra
Local Aboriginal History & Culture (a teacher’s resource)
This is a great resource for anyone teaching about the Dharawal people. It was compiled for the University of Sydney by Brett Rolfe.
This is a great resource for anyone teaching about the Dharawal people. It was compiled for the University of Sydney by Brett Rolfe.
Early Contact Map
This map shows the locations of battle and ceremonial grounds, traditional and post-European camps, men's and women's sites, traditional travel routes, and Aboriginal place names. It also includes a story of how Wollongong got its name from the Aboriginal word Woolungah, the story of Wangewarra, and the story that explains how Windang Island (Gun-man-gang) was formed, and why the whale spouts, the starfish is ragged, the native bear has strong arms.
This map shows the locations of battle and ceremonial grounds, traditional and post-European camps, men's and women's sites, traditional travel routes, and Aboriginal place names. It also includes a story of how Wollongong got its name from the Aboriginal word Woolungah, the story of Wangewarra, and the story that explains how Windang Island (Gun-man-gang) was formed, and why the whale spouts, the starfish is ragged, the native bear has strong arms.
Early Ancestors of Illawarra's Wadi-Wadi People
This book is endorsed and authorised by the Wadi-Wadi Coomaditchie Aboriginal Corporation. It contains information about the Aboriginal people of the Illawarra including an historical family tree, language map, and relations between Aboriginal people and settlers.
This book is endorsed and authorised by the Wadi-Wadi Coomaditchie Aboriginal Corporation. It contains information about the Aboriginal people of the Illawarra including an historical family tree, language map, and relations between Aboriginal people and settlers.
Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation
The Coomaditchie story, art, and Illawarra Dreaming Stories.
The Coomaditchie story, art, and Illawarra Dreaming Stories.
A history of the Aboriginal People of the Illawarra
This book provides a thematic history of the Aboriginal people in the Illawarra area, south of Sydney, from 1770 to 1970. It covers the period from just before European invasion to the evolution of the late 20th-century Aboriginal political institutions. It was undertaken in consultation with various Aboriginal groups and people from the Illawarra along with extensive historical research.
The book includes several maps that show areas of historical and contemporary significance to Aboriginal people, and identifies sites that are of local or statewide significance.
This book provides a thematic history of the Aboriginal people in the Illawarra area, south of Sydney, from 1770 to 1970. It covers the period from just before European invasion to the evolution of the late 20th-century Aboriginal political institutions. It was undertaken in consultation with various Aboriginal groups and people from the Illawarra along with extensive historical research.
The book includes several maps that show areas of historical and contemporary significance to Aboriginal people, and identifies sites that are of local or statewide significance.
DHARAWAL
This is a wonderful book that tells the story of the Dharawal speaking people of Southern Sydney. It is beautifully presented and contains many additional resources that can be used with students.
This is a wonderful book that tells the story of the Dharawal speaking people of Southern Sydney. It is beautifully presented and contains many additional resources that can be used with students.
Murni Dhungang Jirrar: Living in the Illawarra
This book is about Aboriginal people's uses of plants and animals in the Illawarra area, south of Sydney. The title means animal food (Murni), plant food (Dhungang) and fur (Jirrar) in Dharawal language.
The book includes interviews with Aboriginal people, combined with extensive background research. It explores the spiritual and economic significance of various Illawarra environments - including marine, inter-tidal, estuarine, woodland and forest habitats - to the Aboriginal people of the Illawarra.
This book is about Aboriginal people's uses of plants and animals in the Illawarra area, south of Sydney. The title means animal food (Murni), plant food (Dhungang) and fur (Jirrar) in Dharawal language.
The book includes interviews with Aboriginal people, combined with extensive background research. It explores the spiritual and economic significance of various Illawarra environments - including marine, inter-tidal, estuarine, woodland and forest habitats - to the Aboriginal people of the Illawarra.
Aboriginal History of the Black Diamond Districts and Beyond
This part of the Bulli Black Diamond Museum & Heritage Centre website lists resources for finding aspects of Aboriginal history of the Illawarra.
This part of the Bulli Black Diamond Museum & Heritage Centre website lists resources for finding aspects of Aboriginal history of the Illawarra.
Office of Environment and Heritage: NSW Culture and Heritage
This website contains information about Aboriginal culture in NSW, including the Illawarra.
Download the book A History of Aboriginal People of the Illawarra 1770 to 1970 by the Department of Environment and Heritage.
This website contains information about Aboriginal culture in NSW, including the Illawarra.
Download the book A History of Aboriginal People of the Illawarra 1770 to 1970 by the Department of Environment and Heritage.
Illawarra Aborigines - An Introductory History
Paper by Michael Organ and Carol Speechley for the University of Wollongong.
Paper by Michael Organ and Carol Speechley for the University of Wollongong.
Aboriginal History of Shellharbour
Read this entry in the Shellharbour Local History Blog written for NAIDOC Week, 2012.
Read this entry in the Shellharbour Local History Blog written for NAIDOC Week, 2012.
Wollongong Library Research Guide
This guide contains many links to help research the history of the Illawarra.
This guide contains many links to help research the history of the Illawarra.
This webpage, compiled by local resident and photographer Brad Chilby, whose family history in the Illawarra dates back seven generations, contains some interesting information about the Illawarra's Aboriginal (and other) history during the 1800s.
Mickey Johnson: Aboriginal King of Illawarra (1834 -1906)
This website, compiled by Michael Organ for the University of Wollongong, contains a collection of images of Mickey Johnson.
Read about Mickey Johnson on the Kiama Library's website.
The National Portrait Gallery has a short biography on Mickey Johnson.
An Interesting Ceremony: The Coronation of "King Mickey"
An article about the ceremony to declare Mickey Johnson King of Illawarra. Written in the Barrier Miner on 14 February 1896.
An article about the ceremony to declare Mickey Johnson King of Illawarra. Written in the Barrier Miner on 14 February 1896.
The National Museum of Australia explains the history of the breastplate that Mickey Johnson is seen wearing in many photos, declaring him to be King of Illawarra.
Illawarra and South Coast Aboriginies 1770-1900
This paper, compiled by Michael Organ for the University of Wollongong, is a compilation of historical manuscripts and published material relating to the Illawarra and South Coast Aborigines for the period 1770 to 1900. Important documents reproduced in this book include blanket issue returns from the period 1827-30; index entries concerning Illawarra and South Coast Aborigines taken from the Colonial Secretary's Correspondence and Aboriginal Protection Board files at the Archives Office of New South Wales, covering the period 1868-1900; 1820s material from the Alexander Berry Papers (Mitchell Library), including references to his collecting of Aboriginal skulls; dreaming stories from various sources; reports of the Lake Illawarra Aboriginal Mission from the turn of the century; and references to the Coomaditchie Reserve at Port Kembla, which survives to this day. References to numerous published and unpublished archaeological reports are also included. An alphabetical listing of over 2,100 Illawarra and Shoalhaven Aboriginal words compiled from historic references is included as an appendix.
Australia Day - Invasion Day
This blog explains the meaning of Australia Day for Aboriginal people - known to many of them as Invasion Day.
Explore this website for more information about Aboriginal people, history, and culture.
Explore this website for more information about Aboriginal people, history, and culture.