Dhirari facts for kids
The Dhirari (also called Dirari or Tirari) were an Aboriginal Australian group. They lived in the state of South Australia. Their language, now extinct, was a dialect of the Diyari language. It is important not to confuse them with the Diyari people, even though their languages were related.
Who Were the Dhirari?
For a while, there was some confusion about the Dhirari people. In 1904, a researcher named A. W. Howitt thought they might be a smaller part of the Diyari group. However, a German missionary named Otto Siebert later confirmed in 1936 that the Tirari language was different from the Diyari language. This showed they were a distinct group.
Where Did They Live?
The Dhirari people lived in a specific area of South Australia. Norman Tindale, a famous researcher, estimated their traditional lands. These lands covered about 4,500 square miles (11,655 square kilometers).
Their home was around the eastern side of Lake Eyre. This area stretched north from a place called Muloorina. It went all the way to the Warburton River. To the east, their lands reached the Killalapaninna area.
Their Legacy
Sadly, by the time Norman Tindale wrote about them in 1974, the Tirari people as a distinct group no longer existed. However, their name lives on in the land. A part of the area they once called home is now known as the Tirari Desert. This desert is a reminder of the Dhirari people and their history.
