HISTORY
Our Jarowair Legacy: A Journey Through Time
Time Immemorial
The Jarowair people have cared for the northern Darling Downs — including the Bunya Mountains, Crows Nest, Oakey, and Bell — for over 40,000 years. The sacred Bunya Mountains were home to the triennial Bunya Nut Festival, a powerful gathering of many Nations for ceremony, renewal, and unity.
(1827–1840s) First Contact & Dispossession
European explorers and settlers arrived, leading to rapid colonisation. Jarowair lands were seized for sheep and cattle grazing. Violent displacement and disease deeply impacted our people, yet our spirit endured.
(1870s) Suppression of Ceremony
Colonial authorities outlawed the Bunya Nut Festival, fearing the strength of Aboriginal unity. Despite this, sacred sites like the Gummingurru ceremonial grounds near Gowrie Junction remained protected in our hearts and stories.
(1900s–1950s) Forced Removals
Many Jarowair people were forcibly relocated to missions such as Cherbourg and Palm Island, severing ties to Country. Our culture survived through enduring kinship ties and cultural knowledge passed down in secret.
(1960) Cultural Recognition
Through the dedication of Elders and custodians, the Gummingurru stone arrangements were documented and recognised as a major ceremonial site, preserving our stories and connection to the land.
(2000) Return of Gummingurru
On 9 December 2000, the Queensland Government returned Gummingurru to the traditional owners — the Jarowair, Wakka Wakka, and Warra peoples. Today, the site is protected and cared for by the Gummingurru Land Trust.
Today: Revival & Sovereignty
Jarowair descendants actively revitalise language, protect sacred sites, and assert sovereignty through the Jarowair Aboriginal Corporation. Our Ancestors’ legacy lives through cultural education, land care, and community leadership — ensuring our culture thrives for generations to come.
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