Early History
Derrigarba is the name given to the Wickham area by the Awabakal people, the traditional custodians of the land. This name Derrigarba translates to “flower on the sand”; a potential reference to the natural flora of the area located on the former beaches along the estuaries of Throsby Creek. The area was rich in natural resources, particularly fish and shellfish from the nearby Throsby Creek and Hunter River.
Here are some key facts about the Awabakal people’s history, survival, and cultural practices, including corroborees.
Traditional Lands & Survival
The Awabakal people lived around Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, and surrounding areas, including Wickham.
They were skilled hunter-gatherers and fishers, using canoes (nukang) to fish in the rivers and coastline.
The harsh impacts of colonization led to significant population decline, but many Awabakal descendants continue to live in the region today.
Lycett and Wallis: Unlikely Preservers of Aboriginal Knowledge.
“At the beginning of the 19th Century in one of the World’s most vicious settlements, two fractured European men started an art revolution that resulted in the preservation of vast amounts of Aboriginal Cultural Knowledge. Before the existence of cameras, convict Joseph Lycett captured traditional Aboriginal life in Newcastle as it had existed for millennia, at the nexus point before most of their lifestyle would be lost forever. This is a wild tale that every Novocastrian needs to know. (35min)” (Source: Stories of our Town. https://storiesofourtown.com/lycett-wallis/)
Aborigines resting by camp fire, near the mouth of the Hunter River, Newcastle, New South Wales, ca. 1817
Watercolour by Joseph Lycett (National Library of Australia)
Want more? Then check out:
Maynard, John (2014). True light and shade : an aboriginal perspective of Joseph Lycett’s art : Canberra : Moorebank
‘True light and shade’ is filled with beautiful images by convict artist Joseph Lycett that powerfully capture in intimate detail Aboriginal life, a rare record of Aboriginal people within the vicinity of Newcastle and how they adapted to European settlement before cultural destruction impacted on these groups. John Maynard writes an engaging short biography of Lycett and his life in Australia and follows this with a detailed commentary on each of the 20 images in the album. Each image is reproduced in full on a double page spread and then, on the spreads following, details have been enlarged to accompany John’s text as he takes us through exactly what is happening in every picture: ceremony, hunting and fishing, carrying food (carving up whalemeat), land management and burning, interactions with Europeans, family life, dances, funeral rituals, and punishment. When you return again to examine the full image, you see it in a completely different light. John also includes written records from the time that corroborate Lycett’s views.
Emeritus Professor John Maynard is a Worimi Aboriginal man from the Port Stephens region of NSW and a Professor of Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Newcastle. He has held several major positions and served on numerous prominent organizations and committees including, Deputy Chairperson of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and the Executive Committee of the Australian Historical Association.
Corroboree & Cultural Practices
Corroborees are traditional ceremonies involving song, dance, and storytelling, used for spiritual, social, and educational purposes.
They often took place near Wickham and other Newcastle areas, passing down Dreaming stories and community knowledge.
The Awabakal language was historically spoken during these ceremonies and is now being revived through education efforts.
Corroboree at Newcastle, ca. 1818
Oil painting by Joseph Lycett (Dixson Galleries, State Library of NSW)
Research by the Coal River Working Party suggests that Wickham was probably the location of ancient Corroboree grounds as depicted in the oil painting ‘Corroboree at Newcastle’ by Joseph Lycett.
The Awabakal Today
The Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council helps preserve culture, language, and traditions.
Awabakal people still participate in cultural events, community gatherings, and education programs to keep their traditions alive.
The Awabakal language and customs continue to be taught in schools and cultural centres across the region.
For more information, refer to Awabakal Ltd web site at: https://www.awabakal.org/.