Mooro facts for kids

The Mooro are an important Nyungar Aboriginal group, part of the Whadjuk people. Their traditional lands stretch from the Swan River in Perth north to the Moore River. They also lived east towards Ellen Brook. People have lived on the Swan Coastal Plain for more than 40,000 years, showing a very long history in this area.

Life on Mooro Lands

Before European settlers arrived, the Mooro people moved across the lakes and wetlands near the coast. These included places like Yanchep, Neerabup Lake, Lake Joondalup, and Lake Monger. These areas were rich in food and water. The Mooro hunted wild birds, fish, frogs, freshwater tortoises, and different marsupials.

Using Natural Resources

The coastal areas provided useful materials like chert and limestone. The Mooro used these to make strong stone tools. They moved with the seasons to find the best resources. In winter, they moved to higher ground further east. In late spring, they returned and used a method called fire-stick farming. This involved carefully burning parts of the bushland to help new plants grow and to make it easier to hunt animals like wallabies, kangaroos, and possums. Their main camp was at Mount Eliza, which is now part of Kings Park.

First Meetings with Europeans

When European settlers first arrived, Yellagonga was the leader of the Mooro group. He was the uncle of the famous Aboriginal warrior, Yagan. At first, the meetings between the Mooro people and the new settlers were friendly. Explorers like Robert Menli Lyon and George Grey wrote about these good encounters.

Growing Challenges

However, as more settlers arrived, there were problems. Both the Mooro and the settlers needed the same land and resources. This led to misunderstandings and disagreements. For example, John Butler, an early settler, noted that while the local people were friendly, he was careful about sharing his food.

Changes to Traditional Life

By the late 1830s, the Mooro people faced many challenges. They were often stopped from using their traditional lands, which made it hard to live as they always had. New diseases brought by Europeans also affected their population.

Impact on the Community

These changes had a big impact on the Mooro way of life. A count in 1836 showed only 28 Mooro people. Within less than 20 years, their traditional community had changed greatly. Many of the remaining people had to live near permanent waterholes on the edges of Perth.

See also

In Spanish: Pueblo Muro para niños