Warrongo people facts for kids

The Warruŋu people, also called Warungu or Warrongo, were an Indigenous Australian group. They lived in the northern rainforest areas of Queensland, south of Cairns.

What Language Did They Speak?

The Warrongo language was part of the Pama–Nyungan languages family, specifically the Maric branch. Sadly, the last person who spoke Warrongo, Alf Palmer, passed away in 1981. This means the language is now extinct.

Some experts, like Tasaku Tsunoda, thought Warrongo had a very special grammar. However, other experts, like Robert M. W. Dixon, have questioned this idea.

Where Did the Warruŋu Live?

The Warruŋu people lived in a specific area of Queensland. Their northern border was near Mount Garnet. From there, their land stretched southeast along the Herbert River.

How Was Their Society Organized?

The Warruŋu people were closely connected to the Gudjal and Gugu Badhun peoples. All three groups lived along the Herbert and Upper Burdekin rivers. They shared similar languages and cultures.

Like other groups in this area, the Warruŋu divided their members into four 'skin' sections. These sections helped organize families and marriages. Each section had special animal totems.

• gorgorro (also called goynba)
  • Totems: carpet snake (gabol) and sparrowhawk (garrgay)
• gorgilla (also called woragaja)
  • Totems: crow (wajagan) and eaglehawk (gorrijala)
• won.go (also called wolmirri)
  • Totems: echidna (barrbira) and dove (gorraga)
• wojorro (also called yawonya)
  • Totems: eaglehawk, carpet snake, and emu (gondolo)

A Brief History of Contact

In 1880, tin was discovered in the Wild River area, which was near Warruŋu land. Around the mid-1870s, large cattle stations like John Atherton's Cashmere station and Gunnawarra station were set up on their territory.

Many miners came to the area after tin was found. This led to many difficult times and conflicts for the Warruŋu people. Sadly, there were also massacres. At a place called Blencoe Falls, a group of Warruŋu people were forced off cliffs into the gorge below. Because of these events, very little information about these people survived.

Last Known Speakers

• Alf Palmer: He was a boat-builder who also knew the Jirrbal, Girramay, and Warrgamay languages. His mother, Lucy, was one of the people who was forced into the gorge at Blencoe Falls.

Some Warruŋu Words

• warrngu (woman)