Brewarrina
Brewarrina is 'must-see' outback destination and should be included in any journey through Outback NSW as it provides the visitor with a great insight into the indigenous connection to the land and the great waterways of the region. Brewarrina has always been one of the major inter-tribal meeting places within the Murray-Darling Basin.
About Brewarrina:
Here you will see the fish traps. Known in the Aboriginal language as Ngunnhu, these structures are purpose-built rock constructions forming a network of mazes that enabled the corralling and catching of fish. It is understood that the traps sustained several thousand Aboriginal people during tribal gatherings held prior to European settlement.
Estimated to have existed for over 40,000 years, the traps are believed to be the oldest man-made structure on earth. The system that exists today is a restoration; much of what existed at the time of European settlement was unfortunately removed to allow the early river-boats to travel further upstream.
Brewarrina was settled by Europeans in the 1840s who, by the 1860s, realised that it was primarily the furthest point that river boats could reliably travel up the Darling River. As such, Brewarrina became an important port for settlers wishing to transport their produce via the Darling and Murray rivers to the major shipping ports of Adelaide and Melbourne.
Today, Brewarrina is quiet and peaceful with some particularly attractive and historic buildings including Christ Church and the excellent suspension bridge. The fish traps provide the visitor with an insight to how the waterways were managed by the Indigenous Australians. This connectivity to the river and the land is continued down the Darling River in different ways, in different 'countries', by different groups.
Brewarrina Visitor Information:
Visitor Information Centre:Bathurst Street Brewarrina, NSW 2715 Telephone: 02 6830 5152 |
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