Wombats are the largest burrowing marsupials in the world. Their burrow system can spread for more than 500 metres.
Indigenous History
Taronga Zoo, situated on Bradley's Head is home to the Cammeraigal people. Early reports indicate that Bradley's head, the headland Taronga Zoo is situated on, was called ‘Booragy' and was neighboured by other clans including Wallumedagal people to the west and possibly the Borogegal people.[1]
The Cammeraigal people utilized a wide range of resources from the land and water. Resources were used for food and medicines, making artifacts including boomerangs and spears, erecting shelters and body decorations.[2]
Like many coastal Aboriginal groups who fished, hunted and gathered, the Cammeraigal people were described by Collins as:
'...wholly depend for food on the few fruits they gather; the roots they dig up in the swamps; and the fish they pick up along shore, or contrive to strike from their canoes with spears. Fishing, indeed, seems to engross nearly the whole of their time, probably from its forming the chief part of a subsistence.'[3]
Fish is their chief support.[4]
Numerous campsites are found in the area and locations were usually chosen on the basis of providing comfort and shelter from the weather, access to water, plants and animals, and raw material resources. Rockshelters in sandstone cliffs and outcrops around the harbour plus small hut-like structures, made up of sheets of bark and branches, were the primary form of housing.[5]
Artwork was diverse, ranging from paintings, drawings, stencils and rock engravings, some of which are still evident today. Artwork was based on a range of things including, men and women, human anatomy, symbols (such as circles), spiritual figures, kangaroos and wallabies, fish, reptiles, birds and artifacts.[6]
After the arrival of the first fleet many Cammeraigal people were exposed to small-pox, which was until then a foreign illness. With no immunity to battle the disease, many perished, with Barrington writing (1795:52):
It is truly shocking to find coves of the harbour, which were formely thronged with numerous families...now strewn with dead bodies of men, women and children.[7]
With their land being taken over due to a ‘free land grants’ of Cammeraigal country in 1794, destruction of native fauna and flora, and a blatant disregard for Aboriginal laws and customs, the Cammeraigal people quickly moved to retaliate against the European people. Pelmulwuy, a Bidgigal man and Eora patriot, is one of many famous resistance fighters of this era, and his leadership in establishing guerilla warfare caused many problems with expansion of the European colony between 1788 and his death in 1802.
Today, Taronga Zoo acknowledges the contribution that the local inhabitants made in developing a strong connection and respect of Australian animals, the principles of sustainability and conservation. Practices such bush burning, hunting only for what people needed to eat, and allowing animals and plants to rejuvenate in a particular area, ensured the ongoing survival of species. Taronga endevours to continue a 60 000 year old practice and like the Cammeraigal people, continue to play a part in sustainability, conservation and education.
Endnotes
[1] Aboriginal Heritage Study of the Mosman Local Government Area - Final Report Volume 4 2005, CD-ROM, Australian Museum Business Services, Sydney.[2] Aboriginal Heritage Study of the Mosman Local Government Area - Final Report Volume 4 2005, CD-ROM, Australian Museum Business Services, Sydney.
[3] Tench, W. 1789,1793 (1979). Sydney's First Four Years, being a reprint of A Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay and A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson. Fitzhardinge, LF (ed.). Library of Australian History in assoc. with Royal Australian Historical Society, Sydney.
[4] Collins, D. 1975 (1798). An account of the English Colony in New South Wales. 2 Volumes. Republished by B Fletcher (ed.). RAHS Association. Reed, Sydney.
[5] Aboriginal Heritage Study of the Mosman Local Government Area - Final Report Volume 4 2005, CD-ROM, Australian Museum Business Services, Sydney.
[6] Aboriginal Heritage Study of the Mosman Local Government Area - Final Report Volume 4 2005, CD-ROM, Australian Museum Business Services, Sydney.
[7] Barrington, G. 1975. A Voyage to NSW...(Botany Bay). London.
