Bidjara (Warrego River) facts for kids
The Bidjara (also called Pitjara) are an Aboriginal Australian people. They come from the eastern part of Queensland, a state in Australia. It's important to know that there are other groups with similar names. For example, there are Bidjara people from southwestern Queensland and Badjiri people from southern Queensland. These groups are different from the Bidjara of eastern Queensland.
Contents
Where the Bidjara People Lived
Traditional Lands in Queensland
The Bidjara people lived on a large area of land in eastern Queensland. A famous researcher named Norman Tindale estimated their traditional lands covered about 6,400 square miles (16,576 square kilometers). This area is roughly the size of a small country.
Their lands started near the beginnings of the Nogoa River and Warrego River. These are important rivers in Queensland. The Bidjara territory stretched north of a town called Augathella. It went as far as a place known as Mantuan Downs.
To the east, their lands reached areas around Killarney and Chesterton. In the south, they were present as far as Caroline. Their western border was along the Nive River. This shows how vast their traditional country was.
A Look at Bidjara History
How the Bidjara and Badjiri Groups Formed
Before European settlers arrived in Australia, the Bidjara and Badjiri people might have been one group. Researcher Norman Tindale thought they might have split apart. This split could have happened because other Aboriginal tribes moved eastward. This movement might have caused the Bidjara and Badjiri to become separate groups. They then developed their own unique identities and territories.
Other Names for Bidjara
Sometimes, the Bidjara people are known by slightly different names. These names include:
- Bidjera.
- Peechera.
