Bidjigal
Encyclopedia
The Bidjigal people are a group of Indigenous Australians
living to the West of Sydney. Their geographical location is confusing, as they seem to have been based in southern
Sydney
, in the region between the Cooks River
and the Georges River
and yet also seem to have inhabited land in north-western
Sydney, in what is now Baulkham Hills.
Others say that the Bidjigal people span from La Perouse, Botany Bay down to the Illawarra. The language group to which they belong is Dharawal
, which spanned from Sydney to Jervis Bay.
Attenbrow (2002) discusses their possible origin and location, and concludes that the question is "somewhat vexed", while Kohen (1993) suggests that there may have been some confusion between two distinct groups: the Bidjigal (living in the Baulham Hills area) and the Bediagal at Botany Bay
in the Salt Pan Creek area. If this is the case, then this article is about the Bidjigal people living in the Baulkham Hills area.
The Bidjigal are sometimes said to be a clan of the Dharuk people, and sometimes a clan of the Eora
people, and this may result from the confusion described above. However, it is also possible that they were a distinct group with their own Bidjigal language. The name Bidjigal means plains-dweller in the Dharuk language.
Perhaps the most famous Bidjigal person was Pemulwuy
, who successfully led Aboriginal Resistance forces against the British Army before finally being captured and killed (and eventually beheaded).
The name of the Bidjigal is today remembered by the name of Bidjigal Reserve
, in Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, Carlingford, North Rocks and Northmead to the North-West of Sydney
. The Bidjigal Reserve was known as Excelsior Park until 2004. It is the site of the earliest known Aboriginal
occupation of Sydney.
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
living to the West of Sydney. Their geographical location is confusing, as they seem to have been based in southern
Southern Sydney
This article refers to an area the same as a combination of St George and SutherlandSouthern Sydney is a general term which is used to describe the southern metropolitan area of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia....
Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, in the region between the Cooks River
Cooks River
The Cooks River is a 23 kilometre long urban waterway of south-western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia emptying into Botany Bay. The course of the river has been altered to accommodate various developments along its shore...
and the Georges River
Georges River
The Georges River is a waterway in the state of New South Wales in Australia. It rises to the south-west of Sydney near the coal mining town of Appin, and then flows north past Campbelltown, roughly parallel to the Main South Railway...
and yet also seem to have inhabited land in north-western
Hills District (Sydney)
Hills District or The Hills is a general term for the north-western suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Hills District is also referred to as The Sydney Hills and The Hills Shire...
Sydney, in what is now Baulkham Hills.
Others say that the Bidjigal people span from La Perouse, Botany Bay down to the Illawarra. The language group to which they belong is Dharawal
Tharawal language
Tharawal is an Australian Aboriginal language.-Classification:Southern New South Wales groupClans and Families of The Northern Dharawal*Noron-Geragal*Targarigal*Goonamattagal*Wodi Wodi...
, which spanned from Sydney to Jervis Bay.
Attenbrow (2002) discusses their possible origin and location, and concludes that the question is "somewhat vexed", while Kohen (1993) suggests that there may have been some confusion between two distinct groups: the Bidjigal (living in the Baulham Hills area) and the Bediagal at Botany Bay
Botany Bay
Botany Bay is a bay in Sydney, New South Wales, a few kilometres south of the Sydney central business district. The Cooks River and the Georges River are the two major tributaries that flow into the bay...
in the Salt Pan Creek area. If this is the case, then this article is about the Bidjigal people living in the Baulkham Hills area.
The Bidjigal are sometimes said to be a clan of the Dharuk people, and sometimes a clan of the Eora
Eora
The Eora are the Aboriginal people of the Sydney area, south to the Georges River, north to the Hawkesbury River, and west to Parramatta. The indigenous people used this word to describe where they came from to the British. "Eora" was then used by the British to refer to those Aboriginal people...
people, and this may result from the confusion described above. However, it is also possible that they were a distinct group with their own Bidjigal language. The name Bidjigal means plains-dweller in the Dharuk language.
Perhaps the most famous Bidjigal person was Pemulwuy
Pemulwuy
Pemulwuy was an Aboriginal Australian man born around 1750 in the area of Botany Bay in New South Wales. He is noted for his resistance to the European settlement of Australia which began with the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. He is believed to have been a member of the Bidjigal clan of...
, who successfully led Aboriginal Resistance forces against the British Army before finally being captured and killed (and eventually beheaded).
The name of the Bidjigal is today remembered by the name of Bidjigal Reserve
Bidjigal Reserve
The Bidjigal Reserve is a reserve in the shire of Baulkham Hills, to the north-west of Sydney. The reserve lies in the suburbs of North Rocks, Northmead, Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, West Pennant Hills, and Carlingford. The reserve lies south of Richard Webb Reserve in West Pennant Hills, and...
, in Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, Carlingford, North Rocks and Northmead to the North-West of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. The Bidjigal Reserve was known as Excelsior Park until 2004. It is the site of the earliest known Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
occupation of Sydney.