Yirandhali facts for kids

The Yirandhali are an Indigenous Australian people. They lived in the area of what is now the Flinders Shire in Queensland, Australia.

Yirandhali Language

The Yirandhali language might be part of the Maric branch. This branch belongs to the larger Pama–Nyungan language family. This is according to language expert Robert Dixon.

Another expert, Peter Sutton, believes that some old word lists actually describe the Yirandhali language. These lists were made by an early settler, M. Armstrong.

Traditional Lands

The Yirandhali people had a large traditional territory. It was about 16,000 square miles (41,000 km²) in size. This information comes from Norman Tindale, a researcher of Indigenous lands.

Their main lands were west of the Great Dividing Range. They lived around the upper parts of the Dutton and Flinders rivers. Their country stretched from near Mount Sturgeon south to Caledonia. To the west, their lands were close to Richmond, Corfield, and east of Winton.

The Yirandhali were the original people of Torrens, Tower Hill, and Landsborough Creeks. They also lived in areas like Lammermoor, Hughenden, and Tangorin.

Water was very important in Yirandhali territory. Towerhill Creek had 12 important watering holes. These included Pilmunny, Beroota, and Kooroorinya. The Yirandhali people had dug and cared for these wells for a very long time.

Community Structure

The Yirandhali people had a special system for marriage. It recognized four main groups or classes:

• Ko-bro.
• Woonggo.
• Bunberry.
• Koorookill.

First Meetings with Europeans

The Yirandhali lands were later used for sheep and cattle farming. This happened after Scottish explorer William Landsborough traveled through their country.

One of the first Europeans to live in the area was Robert Christison. He started a large farm between the Landsborough and Thomson rivers. He thought there were about 300 Yirandhali people. However, his daughter, Mary Montgomerie Bennett, wrote in 1927 that there were 500 Yirandhali when Christison arrived in 1863.

Christison's daughter described his first meeting with a Yirandhali man. Christison wanted to make contact. He managed to bring the man back to his home. Christison offered him food, a blanket, and taught him to smoke. He tried to show his friendly intentions. He also began to learn some of the Yirandhali language. He learned the name of the group, Dalleburra, and the man's name, Ko-bro.

Dr. J. Beddoe, Christison's brother-in-law, said that Christison was impressed by the Yirandhali people. Christison was one of the first Europeans to settle there. He managed to build good relationships with the Dalleburra people. He was fair and kind, and they respected him. Many Yirandhali people worked on his farm. They helped with herding animals, washing sheep, and cutting timber.

Christison's daughter wrote that her father greatly admired the Yirandhali. He saw them as peaceful and loyal. He was also deeply moved by how they cared for their elders. For example, he saw a girl who was crippled from birth. At age 60, she was still carried by different groups of the tribe on a stretcher. He also saw men save an old woman from drowning in a swollen river. Another time, a mother stayed with her sick child for days without food or drink. She refused comfort when the child passed away. These stories showed their deep care for each other.

Yirandhali Beliefs

According to Christison, the Yirandhali people believed that spirits lived in the land. They called these spirits yarrabi. The most feared spirit was Koonkoolmujja. This spirit was said to live in rocky areas.

Another spirit was Korribberum. This spirit would roam the open plains on four legs. It was believed to be friendly to those it met.

Other Names for Yirandhali

• Yerrundulli.
• Yerrunthully.
• Irendely.
• Dalebura, Dalleyburra.
• Pooroga. (language name).

Some Yirandhali Words

• kobburra (tame dog)
• koeburro (whiteman)
• murre (father)
• yangena (mother)
• bibboo (a special duelling knife, made from a quartz blade with an ironbark handle. It was held together with gum, beeswax, and kangaroo tendons.)
• kowla (an initiated male, meaning someone who has gone through important ceremonies)