Gundagai lore facts for kids
Gundagai is a special place in Australia with a rich history and many amazing stories. It's known for its deep connections to Aboriginal culture, especially the Wiradjuri people. This area has important ancient sites and spiritual beliefs that have been passed down for generations.
Long before Europeans arrived, the floodplains of the Murrumbidgee River near Gundagai were a popular meeting spot for Wiradjuri people from different areas. North Gundagai is considered a sacred place, with signs of ancient ceremonies like a bora ring found nearby. Because of its location on the Murrumbidgee River, which was like an ancient highway, Gundagai was a key place for Aboriginal people to hold ceremonies, mine resources, make tools, and trade goods. Even today, the sacredness of Gundagai's Aboriginal cultural landscape remains strong.
In 1927, two respected Aboriginal elders from Gundagai, Jimmy Clements (also known as King Billy) and John Noble, attended the opening of the new Parliament House in Canberra. Jimmy Clements, whose traditional name was 'Yangar', bravely walked forward to greet the Duke of York (who later became George VI) and the Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother). Both elders were then formally introduced to the Royal couple as important Australian citizens.
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Amazing Natural Events in Gundagai
Gundagai has seen some incredible natural events over the years! People felt a sense of wonder when a comet appeared in the sky on December 21, 1844. In 1859, the beautiful Aurora Australis (also known as the Southern Lights) was so strong it actually messed with the electrical telegraph system in Gundagai!
Sometimes, very heavy rain falls in Gundagai, so much that old mining dams have overflowed and burst. On New Year's Day in 1876, a meteor lit up the streets "as though with magnesium wire." In 1885, over four inches of rain fell in just two hours during a terrible storm. Gundagai also experienced very deep snowfalls and harsh weather in 1899.
Like other inland parts of Australia, Gundagai has often had tornadoes, especially during dry periods. There have also been many reports of earth tremors shaking through Gundagai since European settlement.
Lightning Strikes and Storms
Gundagai has a history of powerful thunderstorms and lightning strikes. In 1876, during a storm, an electric fire-ball was seen coming from the clouds. It hit the ground and exploded loudly, singeing a policeman's hair and leaving a blue mark on his side. A "terrific thunderstorm" in March 1877 even set fire to the inside of a house.
In November 1899, a man was killed by lightning while sheltering in a hollow log. A boy was struck in 1904 and was unconscious for a long time. Two horses were hit by lightning in 1904, and one died. A few weeks later, two boys were struck when they hid under a bullock hide strung over a wire fence, as the electricity traveled along the wire. In 1938, two drovers were found dead under a tree, also victims of lightning. A bushfire that caused a lot of damage started near Gundagai in February 1906 after lightning hit a tree. These stories show how powerful the local thunderstorms can be.
What Does 'Gundagai' Mean?
The name 'Gundagai' has interesting origins. Some people think it comes from 'Gundagair', the name of a sheep farm in 1838. The word 'Gair' meant 'bird' in the local language, so 'Gundagai' could mean "place of birds." However, this might have referred to the area north of the town, not the town itself.
Another meaning for 'Gundagai' is "cut with a hand-axe behind the knee." If you combine these meanings, it could mean "the place of birds near where there is a large bend in the Murrumbidgee River that was caused by a cut in the back of the knee." This idea suggests that the landscape itself looks like a body with a knee.
There's a large human-like or animal-like shape in the Gundagai landscape. This figure, which looks like a kangaroo or dog's head with an emu's hindquarters and a long tail, is several kilometers long. It seems to be sitting on a box-shaped bend in the river and faces west. Its head is near the famous Dog on the Tuckerbox area. This natural landscape figure is similar to some ancient Sydney rock engravings and is part of local Aboriginal stories.
The name 'Gundagai' also relates to the reason for the bend in the Murrumbidgee River near the showground and to the area's mythological stories. Bunyips, mysterious creatures said to live in waterways, are recorded on the Gundagai floodplain. One interesting bunyip story from 'Kimo' is linked to a large crack in the earth where volcanic rocks came out.
Local Stories and Legends
Gundagai has many local stories, some from Aboriginal traditions and others from the European settlers who arrived later.
Heroic Rescues in the Great Flood
The efforts of four brave Indigenous men – Yarri, Jacky Jacky, Jackie Douglas, and Tommy Davis – during the terrible 1852 flood were truly heroic. They saved more than 40 people from the rising floodwaters using their bark canoes. Yarri and Jacky Jacky were given special bronze medallions for their bravery. They were even allowed to ask for sixpences (an old coin) from all Gundagai residents for their help. It's said that this flood and the rescues helped create a special bond between the Gundagai community and the Wiradjuri people, leading to early steps towards reconciliation.
Spirit Animals and Mysterious Lights
Aboriginal women from nearby Brungle tell the story of the 'Mirriyolla Dog', a spirit dog that could change its shape. Willie wagtails, or djirri djirris, were known to listen to conversations, so people were careful not to share secrets around them. The mysterious blue glow of the Min Min light, sometimes thought to be a mirage, is also known in the Gundagai area. Aboriginal people were taught to run if they saw it. The Mirriyolla Ghost Dog is also known in nearby Cootamundra and lives in the Bethungra Range. This ghost dog hunts only on the longest night of the year.
Gundagai's Ghostly Tales
Gundagai has several recorded sightings of ghosts and will-o'-the-wisps (mysterious lights). In 1869, a "tall and shadowy... supernatural visitant" appeared from under a culvert, scaring a horse and rider. It glowed with a "livid, phosphoric light," like rotting fish.
In 1873, a woman named Mrs. Moroney at Jones Creek was often visited by a ghost wearing a grey tweed suit and having a red beard. Sometimes only half of him would appear. After she spoke to her clergyman and the Bishop, she moved out. Then, a neighbor, Mr. Carey, started seeing the same ghost. He confirmed Mrs. Moroney's description and tried to hit it with a shovel, but the shovel bounced off! He then set his dogs on it, and the ghost retreated through the doorway.
Oscar Bell, a co-founder of the Gundagai Museum, shared a story about the ghost of a little old woman who scared an Irish worker named Dennis Kilker. A tourist also reported seeing a similar ghost in the 1960s. Bell also remembered the ghost of Kimo Hill, a few miles south of Gundagai. This ghost is thought to be a lost child who went missing in the area in the 1830s.
In 1887, a young lady named Bridget Moran drowned herself in Morley's Creek near the old Gundagai Flour Mill. Since then, some people walking past the mill report seeing the image of a sad young woman looking out from the upper windows. More recently, a Gundagai resident saw a ghost at the old Gundagai Gaol and even wrote a song about her.
In 1923, a fun "Ghost Ball" was held in the Gundagai hall, where dancers wore white costumes. Gundagai has a strong tradition of sharing these local stories, which is partly due to the thousands of years that Aboriginal people have lived there, caring for the land and its history.
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