Aboriginal Sydney (Cadi, Djubuguli)
Sydney was named after Sydney Cove, on which the city is located, which in turn was named after Thomas Townshend, the First Viscount Sydney of England; the port is called Port Jackson.
Sydney's Aboriginal name "Djubuguli" refers to what is today named Bennelong Point (where the Opera House stands), whereas "Cadi" denotes the entire Sydney Cove.
The largest open-air art gallery
Sydney is home to one of the largest open-air art galleries in the world, says Jenny Munro, Chairperson of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council. More than 4,000 rock engraving sites have been identified in the greater Sydney region so far, well over 600 of which are in the inner area of Sydney.
Before the invasion Sydney was home to at least 1,500 Eora and Ku-Ring-Gai people, whose traces are left in the greater Sydney area. While many traces were destroyed by the extending city some remain accessible and provide an insight into a culture at least 50,000 years old. It is assumed that Aboriginal people adapted to the changing coastline when it was 12km further to the east at the end of the ice age, 20,000 years ago.
Visible Aboriginal history
The evidence of Aboriginal occupation of Sydney's area is still visible
- through Aboriginal place names (e.g. Parramatta, Cabramatta, Cammeray, Kurnell,...)
- by piles of shells, called middens
- by rock engravings (also called petroglyphs)
- by scarred trees where Aboriginal people cut away part of the tree's bark
- by stone tools or other artefacts
- and even by the course of some streets believed to have been Aboriginal walking tracks. For example, Botany Road is said to follow an Aboriginal path connecting Sydney Harbour with Botany Bay. Other examples include Oxford Street, King Street, George Street and Warringah Road.
Many Aboriginal sites are not signposted, known only to the very interested people. I hope these pages attract more attention to Aboriginal heritage by Sydney's visitors.
Today, Sydney's Aboriginal communities take great pride in being able to demonstrate that, in spite of such a violent history of dispossession, they have survived.—Melinda Hinkson in: "Aboriginal Sydney"
Guide to Sydney's Aboriginal places
I have compiled guides for several significant Aboriginal places. Sites which are also accessible by public transport are marked with a bus, those inaccessible within a reasonable time by public transport are marked with a car.
Aboriginal sites in the CBD
You can also book a tour aboard the Deerubbun or Tribal Warrior. Both are vessels owned by the Tribal Warrior Association, and visitors are shown the Aboriginal culture of Sydney Harbour. Learn Aboriginal landmark names, hear stories of the local tribes and visit Clark Island to learn about bush foods and fishing. Book through Captain Cook Cruises, Circular Quay.
Aboriginal sites of the north
Aboriginal sites of the east
Aboriginal sites of the south
Aboriginal sites of the west
Resources about Aboriginal Sydney
The excellent book "Aboriginal Sydney" is a guide to 50 "important places of the past and present" and provides details for each site on how to get there, a description and historic background information.
Lonely Planet's "Aboriginal Australia" has around 20 pages on New South Wales and its Aboriginal history, some 11 of which are dedicated to Sydney with a large section on galleries, museums and shops.
The City of Sydney published a booklet called Barani / Barrabugu (Yesterday / Tomorrow),
a first-ever comprehensive cultural map of more than 60 sites significant to the Aboriginal community.
The free booklet also describes several walks, along with suggestions for cultural institutions and organisations to visit.