First nations

Information relating to traditional owners of this particular region is scarce and while we have endeavoured to represent these people here, some of this research pertains to the tribal groups of surrounding regions. Visitors are warned that there may be words and descriptions that may be culturally sensitive and which might not normally be used in certain public or community contexts. Some records contain terms and annotations that reflect the author's attitude or that of the period in which the item was written, and may be considered inappropriate today in some circumstances. Readers should be aware that in some Indigenous communities, hearing names and viewing images of deceased persons might cause sadness or distress, particularly to the relatives of these people.

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Aboriginal people lived in harmony with this land for over 50 000 years. Explorer Alan Cunningham was the first white man to travel through this region in 1827 but due to their retiring nature, he met very few inhabitants. The Kambuwal (also Gambuwal) people lived in an area of 9 600km2 from east of Stanthorpe, west to the Dumaresq and Condamine Rivers. The Githabul people were further east while Giabul were to the north. It is estimated that the Kambuwal tribe numbered over 1 500 persons in 1840.

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Learn more about our First Nations people by visiting the Amiens Legacy Centre where there is a native plants garden and information board describing some of the things we know about the indigenous people of this area.

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"The Time of First Contact" - Newspaper Article 2015