By Graham Avery
Citation
Avery, G, 2025, Dhurga Language, First Nations Family Genealogy Service, Sutherland NSW, Weebly website, URL: https://www.firstnationsfgs.com/dhurga-language.html.
Updated on 17/3/2025
Citation
Avery, G, 2025, Dhurga Language, First Nations Family Genealogy Service, Sutherland NSW, Weebly website, URL: https://www.firstnationsfgs.com/dhurga-language.html.
Updated on 17/3/2025
Dhurga Language
The term ‘Dhurga' means ‘No’ in Yuin, as 'Yuin' means 'man' or 'person.' Notably, 'Dharawal' is a Dhurga word for the Cabbage Palm (Livistona australis).
The Dhurga language extended from southern Shoalhaven to Narooma, south coast NSW. Nowadays, the Dhurga people always preferred themselves as Yuin people, however, their language is still remain as Dhurga because of the Dharawal language is also Yuin. It is interesting how Dhawa and Djirringanj languages are now part of Yuin group when technically the languages are not related to Dhurga and Dharawal. The Dharumba people spoke a dialect of Dhurga from Nowra to Burrill Lake. The Murramurrang, Budawang, and Walbunja peoples are part of the same tribal group, they spoke Thoorga dialect of Dhurga, and they occupied an area from Burrill Lake to Narooma. The Dhurga and Dharawal peoples believed they are descendants of Bundoola and his many wives that they made the Yuin Country.
The Dhurga language extended from southern Shoalhaven to Narooma, south coast NSW. Nowadays, the Dhurga people always preferred themselves as Yuin people, however, their language is still remain as Dhurga because of the Dharawal language is also Yuin. It is interesting how Dhawa and Djirringanj languages are now part of Yuin group when technically the languages are not related to Dhurga and Dharawal. The Dharumba people spoke a dialect of Dhurga from Nowra to Burrill Lake. The Murramurrang, Budawang, and Walbunja peoples are part of the same tribal group, they spoke Thoorga dialect of Dhurga, and they occupied an area from Burrill Lake to Narooma. The Dhurga and Dharawal peoples believed they are descendants of Bundoola and his many wives that they made the Yuin Country.
References
Egloff, B., Peterson, N., Wesson S., 2005, Biamanga and Gulaga: Aboriginal cultural association with the Biamanga and Gulaga National Parks, National Library of Australia, published by Office of the Registrar, Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, URL: https://www.academia.edu/10092089/Egloff_et_al_Biamanga_2005.
Mackenzie, A., 1878, Australian Languages and Traditions, The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. VII, printed by Turner & Co., URL: https://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/catalogue_resources/m0047857v7s3.pdf.
Mathews, R.H., 1901, The Thoorga Language, reprinted from the Proceedings and transactions of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, Queensland, Vol. 17, scanned into TROVE by the National Library of Australia, URL: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-756752959/view?partId=nla.obj-756762468.
Mathews, R.H., 1903, The Murawarri and other Australian languages, Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, Queensland, URL: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-831791112/view?partId=nla.obj-831800942#page/n9/mode/1up/search/Tharumba.
Ridley, W., 1875, Tharumba Language - Kámilarói and other Australian languages, printed by Government Printer, Sydney NSW, URL: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1099858783/view?searchTerm=Tharumba+Language&partId=nla.obj-1099894115#page/n154/mode/1up/search/Tharumba+Language.
Egloff, B., Peterson, N., Wesson S., 2005, Biamanga and Gulaga: Aboriginal cultural association with the Biamanga and Gulaga National Parks, National Library of Australia, published by Office of the Registrar, Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, URL: https://www.academia.edu/10092089/Egloff_et_al_Biamanga_2005.
Mackenzie, A., 1878, Australian Languages and Traditions, The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. VII, printed by Turner & Co., URL: https://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/catalogue_resources/m0047857v7s3.pdf.
Mathews, R.H., 1901, The Thoorga Language, reprinted from the Proceedings and transactions of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, Queensland, Vol. 17, scanned into TROVE by the National Library of Australia, URL: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-756752959/view?partId=nla.obj-756762468.
Mathews, R.H., 1903, The Murawarri and other Australian languages, Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, Queensland, URL: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-831791112/view?partId=nla.obj-831800942#page/n9/mode/1up/search/Tharumba.
Ridley, W., 1875, Tharumba Language - Kámilarói and other Australian languages, printed by Government Printer, Sydney NSW, URL: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1099858783/view?searchTerm=Tharumba+Language&partId=nla.obj-1099894115#page/n154/mode/1up/search/Tharumba+Language.