Traditional Landowners
Traditional owners and custodians, the Bindal and Wulgurukaba People are the first people to have lived in the Townsville region.
The Bindal People
The Bindal people call the country “Thul Garrie Waja”. An important symbol for the Bindal people is the shooting star. They believe that wherever the star fell, or the direction the star fell meant there was either danger coming or someone from that direction was in need of help or in danger.
The Wulgurukaba People
The Wulgurukaba people call their country “Gurrumbilbarra”. Wulgurukaba means “canoe people”. An important symbol of the Wulgurukaba people is the carpet snake. Wulgurukabas creation story tells the story of the creation snake that comes down from the Herbert River, went out to sea, creating the Hinchinbrook Channel, and down to Palm and Magnetic Islands. His body broke up, leaving parts along the coast. The tail of the snake is at Halifax Bay, his body is at Palm Island, while his head rests at Arcadia, Magnetic Island.
Visit our Townsville Citylibraries Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community page for a range of information and links for local indigenous community members and the wider community.
