Tharawal people

The Tharawal (or Dharawal) people were the Aboriginal inhabitants of southern Sydney and the Illawarra region in 1788, when the first European colonists arrived. The Tharawal people lived in the areas from south side of Botany Bay, around Port Hacking to north of the Shoalhaven River and inland to Campbelltown and Camden. The Tharawal people spoke the Tharawal language.^{[citation needed]}

The historical artwork (rock engravings) of the Tharawal people is visible on the sandstone surfaces throughout their language area and charcoal and ochre paintings, drawings and hand stencils can be found on hundreds of rock surfaces and in the many dozens of rock shelters and overhangs in that area of land. There is a public viewing site of one group of engravings at Jibbon point. Those engravings are marred by recent European inclusions. The original Jibbon point engravings (pecked and abraided petroglyphs) show a pod of Orcha ([Orsinus Orca]Killer whales) hunting a seal. The leading whale is shown as a scarified and initiated animal indicating his status as a totemic spirit of high esteem.^{[citation needed]}

It was commonly believed that there were no remaining descendants of the Tharawal people, however after the Mabo v Queensland (No 2) verdict and the Native Title Act 1993 there have been claims lodged by descendents of the Wodi Wodi Clan who claim to have survived the early decimations and gradually moved back into the areas formally occupied by other clans. These Wodi Wodi clansmen are claiming linage to the Tharawal tribe.

The Tharawal people lived mainly by the produce of local plants, fruits and vegetables and by fishing and gathering shell fish products. The men also hunted land mammals and speared fish. The women collected the vegetable foods and were well known for their fishing and canoeing prowess. There are a large number of shell middens still visible in the areas around the southern Sydney area and a glimpse of the Tharawal lifestyle can be drawn from an understanding of the kitchen rubbish left on the midden sites.^{[citation needed]}

Alternative spellings include Dharawal, Darawal, Carawal, Turawal, Thurawal, Thurrawal, Thurrawall, Turu-wal, Turuwul, Turrubul, Turuwull.^{[citation needed]}

External links

Norman B. Tindale's 'Catalogue of Australian Aboriginal Tribes', South Australian Museum. [1]