Our Indigenous Culture

Wiradjuri people of NSW 

• Wiradjuri means “People of the three rivers”. This is in reference to the Lachlan River, Macquarie River and the Murrumbidgee River.

• The Wiradjuri people make up the largest indigenous language group in NSW. The Wiradjuri language itself, however, is made up of smaller language groups that have different dialects to the groups that they border with.

• Research shows that traditionally there was one basic language used by the Wiradjuri people, however, different, smaller subgroups among Wiradjuri speakers had some words that belonged exclusively to their own clan.

• Historically, the Wiradjuri people would generally move around in small groups, using the river flats, open lands and waterways with some regularity throughout the seasons. This can be deduced by debris that has accumulated in these areas.

• Occupation of the land by the Wiradjuri can also be seen by modified trees and campsite remainders. Carved trees are more commonly found around the Macquarie and Lachlan rivers. Campsites, which indicate seasonal occupation by small groups, have also been found on river flats, open land and by the rivers.

• Wiradjuri people moved around the country according to seasonal conditions and cover one of the largest tribal areas in NSW from Nyngan to Albury and from Hay to Bathurst.