Aboriginal History

The Douglas Shire is located in the tribal lands of the Kuku Yalariji tribe. It is believed that there were originally three or five groups within the tribe. Their territory included rainforest, range, riverine and coastal environments. Subsistence was derived from access to a wide and varied range of resources. These resources were exploited on a full time and seasonal basis.

Their distinct and unique rainforest culture is not likely to be more than 9,000 years old and is characterised by:

• A high population density, with frequent gatherings at a large number of specified places for ceremonial activities
• A distinct material culture including fighting weapons like large wooden shields and swords, other items such as woven baskets used for leaching toxins from various nuts, hammered bark cloth and traps for game and fish.
• Heavy dependence on certain toxic species restricted to the rainforest region and which require lengthy preparation before consumption.
• Semi permanent h huts and camps which included dome thatched huts.
• Movement according to the unique environmental features of the region. Such movement was by family groups ranging over their own territory with campsites generally being located on the high banks of major rivers and creeks and cleared by regular use.

For the Kuku Yalanji, the environment was a "culturised", humanised landscape. which was often described in human terms, so that changes within it were interpreted as changes in the human or social world. It was interacted with, spoken to and acted upon. It then reacted by providing goods and resources and other social foundations.

The Kuku Yulariji had five main seasonal categories distinguished by climatic features of that period.

The discovery of gold in the Hodgkinson River, mineral explorations, tin mining and the Christie Paimerston road to the coast in 1877 brought with it an incredible and inconceivable change for the Kuku Yalanji tribe. Contact between such groups was often violent with fatalities occurring on both sides.

Ultimately these influences sufficiently undermined Aboriginal gatherer/hunter economies in the Wet Tropics. Reports indicate that the original Aborigines had been decimated by the mid-1890.

As European settlement expanded Aboriginal groups were rounded up' as legislation was introduced for their "Protection". In 1897 the Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act was introduced which was intended to preserve and protect these people. However, it only instilled into them a feeling of inferiority before the white settlers as it removed them from all responsibility and accountability. The Act was repealed in the 1960s.

Before, during and after the Second World War, local Aboriginal groups were concentrated at the Mossman Gorge Reserve. The Daintree people were first moved into a reserve on the northern bank of the Daintree River and during the sixties there were several government relocations.

The Kuku Yalariji people are survivors and have weathered traumatic times, but through this, have managed to tenaciously hang on to what is left of their tribal identity.

Learn more about Port Douglas Australia.