Background

In 1991 a group of Aboriginal women met and were concerned that Aboriginal people were not accessing mainstream services and were therefore missing out on an essential service. This was also noted in the report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

Yorgum Aboriginal Corporation was incorporated in 1993 and has been operating for twelve years. Yorgum was established to provide a range of counselling services to address the issues of family violence and sexual abuse affecting Aboriginal people.

Local Aboriginal History 

In 1829 European colonists made camp on the banks ofthe Swan River , this camp has grown into modern day Perth . This pamphlet has been produced to highlight and celebrate the Aboriginal history of Perth before the year 1829. It is meant to be a document of natural historical interest, and not a controversial refutation of the colonist's claim of terra nullius. We hope that readers will gain an appreciation of the rich wildlife and anthropological history of Perth prior to colonization.

Information has been sourced from historical documents, various communities, organizations and records. Specific details and further information on points of interest must be sought from the appropriate local Elder.

Mythology 

The mythological significance of the Rainbow Serpent to Aboriginal people is well known Australia wide. Here in Perth , the South western Aboriginal people had their own unique belief ma mythological creator serpent, the “Waugal”. The name Waugal comes from the word Waugal, which - means soul, spirit, breath.

The Waugal was an all-powerful creator who created and maintained the natural and cultural law and order Journeys of the Waugal in ancient times formed modern landmarks such as rivers, valleys, hills and lakes The Waugal was believed to inhabit special areas, which were, and still are, sacred to Aboriginal people.

Traditional Aboriginal Life in the Perth Metro Area
Below is an alphabetical list of the areas in the Perth metropolitan area that are important to Aboriginal people prior to European colonization. Briefly listed next to each site are the traditional Aboriginal uses of the site, in respect for Aboriginal traditions, important ritual sites have not been included.

Many of the sites were created by Waugals, and as such have profound cultural and spiritual significance to Aboriginal people (highlighting that the entire Perth metropolitan area is sacred to Aboriginal people). Specific, defined trade and ritual routes followed tracks created by ancestral beings, and crossed the entire region inking Aboriginal groups from far north, south and east.

Emerging from this list is the fact that Aboriginal people once camped, hunted, traded and travelled extensively over the entire Perth metropolitan area. An area which was incredibly rich in wildlife, vegetation and natural resources.

Armadale (Neerigen Brook)
~ Mythological
Formed by creative actions of Waugal who still lives there and ensures continuing flow of water

Ascot Racecourse Swamp ( Belmont )
~ Hunting Turtles and gilgies

Bayswater and Bassendean ( Nyibra Swamp )
~ Hunting Turtles and gilgies

Bennett Brook
~ Mythological, camping, hunting
Formed by creative activities of Waugal, whose spiritual essence still lives there. Traditional fish trap, freshwater mussels. Tradition of digging wells for freshwater Camping area.

Bibra Lake and North Lake
~ Mythological, camping, hunting Waugal inhabits these lakes and maintains flow of the springs that supplies them. Aborigines from Pinjarra, Mandurah and Armadale camped here to harvest turtle and wildfowl.

Bicton and Mosman Park
~ Traditional freshwater wells

Dogswamp
~ Mythological, camping
Waugal lived in the swamp. Site for red ochre. Occasional camp and water source for people journeying to and from the meeting ground at Yanchep.

Esplanade ( Perth )
~ Camping
Camps along Esplanade between Barrack and William Streets

Forrestdale Lake
~ Mythological, camping, hunting
Home of a powerful Waugal who is associated with the rain. Source of turtles used by people from Pinjarra, Mandurah and Armadale. Seasonal and semi permanent camps.

Gidgegannup
~ Mythological
Pool, swamp and springs here are home of a Waugal.

Gosnells Golf Club (Canningvale)
~ Mythological

A swamp used to exist where current station is, inhabited by Waugal. Ducks, turtles and gilgies hunted. Important source of red ochre, traded far and wide to north, south and east. Aboriginal people from as far east as Boundary Dam on the border of WA and SA know about the red ochre from Perth.

Jane Brook
~ Mythological
Creative Waugal lives in Jane Brook

Kings Park (Waugal Site)
~ Mythological
The entire Kings Park region has a rich, intricate and very important Waugal story to explain its creation and various landmarks. Unfortunately, special landmarks such as Waugal eggs and holes and freshwater springs have now been destroyed.

Lake Claremont
~ Camping, hunting, traditional burials Described as a “paradise” fresh water, snakes, possums, turtles and wildfowl

Lake Jolimont
~ Camping, hunting
Central turtle, mudfish and gilgie area people from Claremont , Bassendean and Guildford areas came here to hunt. Freshwater spring.

Lake Joondalup
~ Camping, hunting, freshwater spring

Lake Monger
~Mythological, camping, fishing, hunting, burial ground Turtle, mudfish, gilgies and wildfowl

Perry Lakes
~ Camping, hunting Prodigious number of turtles.

Pinjarra
~ Camping, hunting, traditional burials Turtles, gilgies and wildfowl. Corroboree Ground.

South Perth Foreshore
~ Fishing, camping
Southern side of narrows to Richardson Street . Important fishing ground and occasional camp.

Swan River
~ Mythological
The entire Swan River was created by a Waugal and special characteristics such as limestone cliffs along its banks, or the wide body of water immediately after the Narrows , are attributed to specific Waugal actions.

Success Hill (Bassendean)
~ Mythological, camping, red ochre mined. Waugal came from the fresh water spring and caused it to flow, Waugal's continued presence guarantees this flow.

Resources
Bloor, Liz l987Aboriginal Usage of Kings Park Department of Aboriginal Sites, 17 Emerald Tce, West Perth
O'Connor R., Bodney C. and Little L. 1985 Preliminary Report on the survey of Aboriginal areas of significancein the Perth Metropolitan and Murray River Regions Unpublished report, Department of Aboriginal Sites, Western Australian Museum : Perth
Polgaze, Ray 1985 North Lake Management Plan Murdoch University : Perth (pg 159 175)
Vinnicombe, Patricia 1989 A Site Complex on the Southern Side of Mount Eliza GOONININUP An HistoricalPerspective of Land Use and Associations in the Old Swan Brewery Area Department of Aboriginal Sites, Western
Green, Neville 1983 Nyungar Past and Present Map 6 Place Names and Territories recorded by Robert Lyon as told to him by Yagan in 1832