The First Inhabitants of Gold Coast


Did you know that the first inhabitants of the beautiful Gold Coast region in Queensland were the Aboriginal group, the Kombumerri? These first inhabitants spoke the Yugambeh language of the region and were hunters and gatherers by profession. The Kombumerri tribal group lived on the Gold Coast for over 23,000 years, and many of their descendants continue to live there. Here are some interesting facts about these first inhabitants and their indigenous history and heritage:

  • The Kombumerri tribal group hunted fish and animals with the help of trained dingos (prehistoric dogs) and dolphins.
  • These inhabitants occupied the entire land between the Coomera River north and the Tweed River south.
  • They had a rich diet that comprised shellfish like oysters and mud crabs, parrots and lizards, turtles and dugongs, koalas and possums and sea mullets.
  • They also relished green leafy vegetables and nuts like Macadamia and Bunya nuts. They also used these nuts for medicinal purposes in their tribal groups.
  • These tribal groups believed in “The Three Brothers” myth, where it is believed that three mythical heroes came to the east Australian coastline with their wives and children.
  • The Kombumerri tribal group lived on the beautiful beaches of the Gold Coast in winter and on the hinterlands of the Gold Coast in the summers. Since the coastal swamps were full of mosquitoes, they avoided this region.
  • They were one of the biggest and most physically developed groups among Australia’s first people.
  • A fun fact about this glittering strip called the Gold Coast in Australia is that these tribal groups used to live as family clans along this region.
  • Other tribal groups would also visit this region and have meetings about the future of the Aboriginal people. Thus, you can still see traces of bora rings and Aboriginal camps in this region dating back to prehistoric times.
  • Besides these meetings, the other tribal clans of Australia would come to the Gold Coast for its tribal ceremonies, festivals, subtropical fruits, and fishing.
  • They would also use unique wood from the lush forests of this region to make boomerangs for their clans.
  • It is thought that early Europeans settled here in the 1600s and displaced most of these Aboriginal people.
  • Captain James Cook first visited the Gold Coast region in 1770 during his Voyage of discovery.
  • He then named Mount Warning and the Point Danger regions in this area.
  • Captain Mathew Flinders, in 1799, then came to this coast and was probably the first European to stand on a local beach in the Gold Coast region.
  • In 1828, a military post was established in Point Danger and became the first European establishment in this area.
  • Even though the Europeans displaced many Aboriginal people in this region, many fought to stay.
  • They have also been recorded in European documents and historical records.
  • Most of the Kombummeri group made themselves useful to the European rulers so that they could continue to live on their traditional land.
  • They had a spiritual connection with the land and thus needed to stay in close contact with the region.
  • These people had to adapt to many regional changes and struggled to keep their traditional lands.
  • Many of these first inhabitants helped initiate the rural industries of timber production.
  • Others became fishermen, worked in the famous oyster industry and helped bring in money for European leaders.
  • Many original inhabitants had to take on entirely new roles in the domestic and tourism industry of the region to help their families survive.
  • There are still over 3600 Aboriginal people who live in this region, and many of them have contributed to the region’s development.
  • Most of these descendants have maintained a low political profile and sought to stay in close connection with their traditional lands and nature.

Conclusion

Therefore, the first inhabitants of the Gold Coast region were the Kombumerri group, who have lived here since prehistoric times. Their descendants now work in various regional sectors and have helped develop the Gold Coast region. Many have settled in the area to stay in close contact with their traditional lands with which they have a spiritual connection. Therefore the Australian Government seeks to protect these people and their land at all costs.

 

 


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