Griffith Archive

Our story - acknowledging our past, celebrating our present, creating our future

First Australians

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BiographyRecognising the Traditional Custodians of the Land

A definitive First Australian history of Brisbane and the surrounding areas remains elusive, with competing historical records and accounts, along with traditional knowledge, providing stories that are somewhat at odds. However, the historical record does show us the long-standing relationship First Australians have had with the land occupied by our campuses. Originally, the land that our Brisbane campuses (Mt Gravatt, Nathan and South Bank) occupy today was an extensive natural area that included the Brisbane River, woodlands, swamps and waterholes. Aboriginal peoples utilised the natural resources in this inner-south Brisbane region to provide baskets, clothing, weapons and food. This area was also important to traditional owners from a cultural perspective with ceremonial, dance, burial and camping grounds all identified in written and oral accounts.

More specifically, within a thirty-minute walk of Nathan campus a two-ring bora ground and a ‘pullen pullen’ (ceremonial fighting ground) have been identified by historians. Mount Gravatt (the actual geographical land form) is known as Kaggur-mabul or Caggara-mahbill in First Australian language which roughly translates into ‘home of the echidna’ in English. A number of camp and burial grounds have been documented at sites within a one hour walk from Mt Gravatt. Centuries-old First Australian tools and artefacts have been found in areas surrounding Mt Gravatt including an axe found in the nearby suburb of Upper Mount Gravatt. Our South Bank campus exists on or close to land that records suggest was used for Aboriginal camp sites. From these campsites, First Australians would collect native honey, fruits and bush medicine. Axe grinding grooves in large embedded rocks (to sharpen stone axe heads) have been documented within a one hour walk from our South Bank campus.

Our Logan campus is in an area that was an intersection between different tribes/clans and language groups. Different language groups and the subsequent differing clans associated with a particular language group crisscrossed the Logan and Greater Brisbane area. The Brisbane, Logan and Albert Rivers were traditionally important sources for harvesting aquatic foods and raw materials. Within a short walk of Logan campus, are areas where in the past, First Australian clans would trap kangaroos around waterholes and catch aquatic wildlife for food. Corroborees and other ceremonies were also conducted not far from this campus.

Gold Coast campus is also situated in an area of high cultural significance for First Australian people. Within driving distance of this campus, important burial sites and ceremonial grounds have been identified. West and inland from Gold Coast campus at an area along Glagiraba Creek was an important area were young Aboriginal men were taken during their initiation ceremony. The Southport suburb has strong association with First Australian hero – Gondwana – a great hunter in local Aboriginal folklore.

Map of the traditional First Australian language group areas that surround our Griffith University campuses. Map provided by the Queensland Government.
*This map is for information purposes only and not intended to be used as a definitive representation.