Wattle (Acacia) and its many uses
The Acacia, commonly referred to as wattle is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae. There are approximately 1,350 species of wattle, of which close to...
Koori History - Aboriginal History of South Eastern Australia
Addressing Fake History
A recent series of attacks on Australian monuments dedicated to the likes of British seafarer Captain James Cook and early New South Wales Governor Lachlan Macquarie, have been described by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm...
Is Australia Day held on the wrong date?
Is Australia Day held on the wrong date? An attempt to provide an answer to this important question was recently made by Yarra City Council in Melbourne. Councillors voted to drop the January 26...
Last of the Tribe
The last of the tribe is a phrase that was commonly used in the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. It was used by non-Indigenous Australians to mark the death of...
Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwillii) – Traditional Aboriginal food & beverage
If you were asked to name a cultural gathering where people come together at the end of the year, sharing good cheer in the spirit of friendship, with a certain interest directed toward a...
Kurrajong (Brachychiton) – Traditional Aboriginal usage, food & technology
The Kurrajong or Bottle tree as it is known in the United States (Brachychiton) is a tree which is native to eastern Australia. Its distribution ranges from Townsville in northern Queensland through to the...
Saw-Sedge (Gahnia) – Traditional Aboriginal usage
Saw-Sedge may refer to a variety of plants which belong to the genus Gahnia, in the family Cyperaceae, of which two forms – Gahniasieberiana (Red fruited saw-sedge) and Gahniaaspera (Rough saw-sedge) were commonly utilised...
Tracker Patten
By John T. Patten John James Patten, known as Jack Patten, was born in the Snowy Mountains of Victoria at Corryong in 1874. He was the eldest son of John Patten, a man for...
Cleverman – The First Aboriginal Superhero?
“I wanted to create a superhero for my son,” says Ryan Griffen, the creator of ABC TV (Australia) / Sundance (USA) co-production of Cleverman. Set in a dystopian future, Cleverman is a new television series...
Were Aboriginal Australians Nomadic: Fact or Fiction?
One of the first ‘facts’ commonly taught when it comes to Aboriginal culture, history and people is the notion that prior to invasion all Aboriginal people were nomadic. This is an idea that exists and flourishes, despite...
