BUNGANDIDJ PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA

THE BUNGANDIDJ ARE FROM MOUNT GAMBERER REGION IN WESTERN VICTORIA AND SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. THESE FOLKS HAD FIVE TRIBES , EACH WITH THEIR OWN AREAS. THE LARGEST CLAN WAS THE BOVENDIK WITH A LAND ABOUT 30 MILES ALONG BEACHPORT.

IN 1940 AND IN 1974 THE EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT OF BUANDIG WAS UNDER TERRITORIAL PRESSURE FROM THE JARDIVAJALI PEOPLE FROM THE NORTH. OF COURSE, THE AUSTRALIANS DID NOT WANT FOREIGNERS TO OCCUPY THAT TERRITORY. THE BEINGAYCDIDJ LANGUAGE WAS SPOKEN BY SEVERAL GROUPINGS INCLUDING THE BUNNDIG.

THEIR SOCIETY HAD TWO MARRIAGE CLASSES. THE CHILDREN EACH WERE ASSIGNED THEIR MOTHER'S CLASS. THEY LIKELY OCCUPIED THIS AREA FOR 10,000 YEARS. THE MIDDEN SITES ON LAKE ELIZA HAVE BEEN DATED.

IN 1834 EUROPEAN SETTLERS CAME HERE WITH SHEEP, CATTLE, HORSE AND ANIMALS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST REGION OF AUSTRALIA, DURING THE NEXT TWO DECADES THE EUROPEANS HAD SIGNIFICANT CONFLICT WITH THE THEFT OF SHEEP, MASSACRES, AND POISONING OF NATIVES! THERE WAS CONTINUOUS CONFLICT BETWEEN THE EUROPEANS AND ABORIGINES. IN 1845 THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE DREW ATTENTION TO THE MISTREATMENT OF THE ABORIGINES. IN 1849 THERE WAS A MASSACRE IN SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA. THEY STOLE SHEEP FOR FOOD.

THE NATIVES MOVED OFTEN AND SEASONALLY GATHERED AND USED TRADITIONAL FOOD AND LIVED NEAR ROSETOWN AND KINGSTON. APPARENTLY THE LAST LOCAL ABORIGINES DIED IN 1902.
TODAY MANY PEOPLE MANY PEOPLE CALL THEMSELVES BUANDIG. DESCENDANTS OF THE BUANDIG AND OTHER CLANS CONTINUE CONTINUE TO PROTECT THEIR CULTURE THROUGH A CULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

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