Camboon Station Records
By Marg Powell, Specialist Library Technician, Metadata Services | 23 June 2021
Footprints of the Wulli Wulli Nation ...
When the Wulli Wulli people were officially recognised as the traditional custodians of land and waters between Moura and Taroom in 2015, it represented a 15 year journey from when their first claim was lodged in the year 2000. In the determination descendants spoke of the country where their ancestors camped, held ceremonies, hunted and gathered food.
Stockmen on Camboon Station in the 1920s, copy print collection, Negative number 12502, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
Camboon Station located in the heart of this country, was such a place - of gathering - where traditional laws and customs were learned - and where many Wulli Wulli people were also employed.
At top: Camboon Homestead, in the 1940s, copy print collection, Negative number 13157, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Below: Camboon Homestead, in 2009 (Courtesy of Len Neale, Banana Shire Historical Society)
The ledgers of Camboon Station held at the State Library of Queensland which principally record the day to day activities of a large pastoral station, also reveal the presence of many of these people, employed as drovers and stockmen, shepherds, general station hands and domestic servants.
Camboon Station ledgers and wages entry for Fred Dodds in 1920, OMF Camboon Station records, Coochin Coochin Station Records, State Library of Queensland.
Within these journals can be found entries for wages and rations allocated to King Jackey, Banjo Bond, Ranji Logan, Percy Saltner, and many other members of the Dodd, Law and Bond families.
Other than anecdotal narratives there is very little other documentary evidence for this nation, many of who were removed from their families and country to 'reserves' such as Taroom where so many died of disease.
Camboon Station store house, 2009 (Courtesy of Len Neale, Banana Shire Historical Society)
More of the Wulli Wulli people's journey can be found in the records held at the Queensland State Archives; much of the relevant material has been reproduced by Paul Mackett whose 'Centre for Indigenous Family History Studies' website can be searched using the following [site: cifhs.com "camboon"] in a web browser.
The Camboon Station records can be viewed on request at the John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, and an index to the records can be viewed via the Collection Guide.
For the Wulli Wulli people the journey continues …
Read more …
- Wulli Wulli Nation Aboriginal Corporation
- Wulli Wulli National Aboriginal Corporation Map [pdf]
- OMF Camboon Station Records, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
Watch and listen …
- bloodlines (Wulli Wulli x Walla Wakka mix) [Youtube; 3:19 mins; occasional offensive language]
- Interview with Beryl Dodd - Wakka Wakka Wulli Wulli [Vimeo 2:42 min]
- Interview with June Bond (nee Hutton) [Sunshine Coast Libraries 1:01:32 hr]
Follow …
Search …
- Centre for Indigenous Family History Studies | site: cifhs.com "your search"
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