Gulidjan facts for kids

The Gulidjan people, also known as the Kolakngat or Colac tribe, are an Aboriginal Australian group. Their traditional lands are around the Lake Colac region in Victoria, Australia. They lived in grasslands, woodlands, and volcanic plains near lakes. Their territory was east of Lake Corangamite, west of the Barwon River, and north of the Otway Ranges. They shared borders with the Wathaurong to the north, Djargurd Wurrung to the west, Girai Wurrung to the south-west, and Gadubanud to the south-east.

Understanding the Gulidjan Language

The Gulidjan language was first identified in 1839. Even though many details and words have been lost, enough remains to show it was a unique language. About 100 Gulidjan words still exist today. Some experts think it might be a mixed language, sharing parts with nearby languages. For example, the name Colac comes from the Gulidjan word kulak (meaning 'sand') and the ending -gnat. This means 'belonging to sand'.

Around 200 words and a translated version of the Lord's Prayer are all that remain of the Gulidjan language.

Their Traditional Lands

The Gulidjan people lived across about 2,330 square kilometers (900 square miles) of land. This area was near Lake Colac and Lake Corangamite. It stretched down into the rugged land towards Cape Otway. The inland edge of their territory was south of Cressy.

A Look at Their History

The Gulidjan people faced many challenges when Europeans began settling on their land. This happened soon after the Foundation of Melbourne in 1835.

Early Challenges

For three years, the Gulidjan actively tried to protect their land. They moved livestock away and raided settler stations. These actions often led to violent responses from the settlers. One study suggests that between 1834 and 1848, about 300-350 Aboriginal people were killed during the settlement of the Western District. In 1837, two settlers, Joseph Gellibrand and George Hesse, disappeared. The Gulidjan were blamed, and settlers, along with some Wathaurong people, responded by killing several Gulidjan people.

Historian Ian Clark recorded three attacks between 1839 and 1840 that resulted in Aboriginal deaths. Often, settlers would destroy campsites and take tools as revenge. By 1839, it became very difficult for the Gulidjan to live in their traditional ways. Many started working on European farms.

Mission Life

In 1839, a mission station called Buntingdale was set up in Gulidjan territory near Birregurra. It was run by the Weslayan Mission Society. Housing was offered only if families agreed to give up polygamy (having more than one spouse). Early disagreements between the Gulidjan and Wathaurong people at the mission led the missionaries to focus only on the Gulidjan language group by 1842.

Within three years, one tribe at the mission saw its numbers cut in half. The impact on the Colac tribe was even more severe. The Gulidjan people resisted attempts to change their culture through Christian teachings and a settled lifestyle. The mission closed in 1848. After this, many Gulidjan found shelter at Alexander Dennis's Tardwarncourt station.

Facing Hard Times

In 1853, a settler named Hugh Murray, who first claimed land in the area in 1837, said the local Gulidjan tribe was small, with only about 35 to 40 people. By 1850, records counted 43 males and 35 females still alive. However, with many people arriving for the Victorian gold rush in the early 1850s, and ongoing harsh policies, by 1858 only 19 Gulidjan people remained.

In 1862, reasons for this decline were identified. These included starvation because Europeans took over the best grazing lands. European diseases like chicken pox, measles, and influenza also had a big impact. It's important to know that historical accounts often downplay the effects of settler actions on Aboriginal populations. Instead, they sometimes focus on causes like disease, or even blame Aboriginal communities for their own decline.

Finding a Home Again

In the 1860s, a small reserve called Karngun was created for the Gulidjan people. It was located on the Barwon River at Winchelsea and was used until 1875. A house was built for them on the site of the current Colac hospital, but they preferred living in their traditional mia-mias (shelters).

In 1872, 16 hectares (about 40 acres) of land were set aside at Elliminyt, south of Colac, for the Gulidjan. A brick house was built there. However, the Gulidjan preferred to use the house as a windbreak. Richard Sharp and Jim Crow, both Gulidjan people, started working on leases on this land. Their families continued to hold these plots until 1948, when the land was sold by the Victorian Lands Department. Descendants of these families still live in the local area today.

How They Lived (Society)

The Gulidjan had a matrilineal society. This means that family lines and important social connections were traced through the mother's side. They often married people from the Djab Wurrung, Djargurd Wurrung, and Wada wurrung groups.

Each person belonged to one of two main groups, called moieties: gabadj (Black Cockatoo) or grugidj (White Cockatoo).

At large gatherings called corroborees, where up to 20 tribes with different languages or dialects would meet, Gulidjan was one of four main languages spoken. The others were Tjapwurrung, Kuurn Kopan Noot, and Wiitya whuurong, which is a dialect of Wathawurrung.

Family Groups (Clans)

Before European settlement, there were four separate family groups or clans:

Other Names for Gulidjan

• Kolidjon
• Kolac-gnat
• Kulidyan
• Lolijon
• Colijon, Koligon
• Loli(f)on
• Colac-conedeet (horde name)
• Karakoi, Karakoo
• Bungilearney Colagiens
• Kolakngat

Some Gulidjan Words

• purterrong (child)
• tharrong (man)
• part-part (moon)
• birri (breast)
• mama (father)