Blackstown and Windsor
I dedicate this site to our people and my Darug father Biyanga (Walter William GREEN the 2nd) whom encouraged me to study the format of our written tongue. We compiled the language for the memories of our ancestors and in particular our great grandmothers and to include the memories of our grandfathers who are Darug.
Rose Hill 1791, was initially named after British treasury official George Rose, the land itself was already occupied by the numerous clans of the Darug iyura, known as the Boorooberongal clan of the area referred to as Burra=Ell Matta=Place, Burramattagal. (Ells place - place of Ells)
The Nura (Country) was situated west of Wangal, Sydney, later during the last century we would be referred to as the Burramattagal people, although the clan are the Boorooberongal. Welcome to Burramattagal, Warami, wellamabami (It's good to see you, wherever you're from)
According to the lore of the Iyura, it is said Biiami was responsponsible for shaping the land. He created the rivers, creeks, the mountains, the bush, forest, mangroves which protected the shoreline. Biiami rasied his arms and sang the mountains into beings of sacred significance. Biiami looked about the land he had created and called it Bembul-ra, pleased with his creation, he created the Iyura setting the human beings amongst his creation of life. With people there would be a need laws for the continuation of life. Traditional practices would include dance, song, and Lore to protect family and cultural heritage.
Biiami sent his eldest son Daramulan to live in the trees of the bush and create the songs for the people. Daramulan arrived on the planet through the voice of the 'Bullroarer' A sacred instrument used for special ceremonial practices. Daramaluan was also known as Dharramulluan 'The One Leg'. It is in the legends that Dharramulluan left the Midyini seed in every spot in the ground where his stump had left it's impression.
The Iyura were finally happy that they would have ready made nurishment straight from the Bembul-ra. The Midyini root the Dharug yam.
Once Bembul-ra had been created Biiami returned to live in the sky, Buurah. The Darug, Dharawal, Thurrawal, Dhurrawal all sang into the sky calling him The All Father or The Sky Hero asking him to create ceremony so that all the Iyura of the lands would know. So it was that Garriberri had begun, Biiami song had been heard all the way across the Muru mittiga, ngaliya-wa Baindian. Walliga, Walbanja and into the hearts and minds of all the clans.
Naala ni yuu ngarra, Yellamundie yibban-da.
'Look see and listen, storyteller singing'
Goomberee or Gumberri was the Chief and father of Yarramundie, leader of the Boorooberongal. Sadly his mother's name went unrecorded. The revered gentleman Yarramundie (born ca. 1760 – died after 1818) is recorded in the early history of the colonist in the Mitchell Library at the (Place of crows and people) Woggan ma gul, Farm Cove Sydney.
It is recorded that on the 28-12-1814 Goomberri and all his wives attended Yarramundie and the entire Darugule nations at Lachlan MACQUARIE new settlement at <Burramattagal (now called Parramatta) It is also recorded that Yarramundie collected honey for Governor Phillip on one of his first expeditions into the interior of Wyaun toongabbie. Yarramundie had the distinction of being the father of Maria, whom after attending the Native Institute at Parramatta where she topped the year against all students Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal. She married her traditional husband Dickydick at St Johns Church of England in Burramattagal 1822, within weeks of the nuptials Dickydick took ill and passed away, some suggest he was taken by flu like symptoms whilst others have assured he was taken by a mysterious sickness unknown to modern medicine.
Colebee, son of Yarramundie and bulunga to Maria is not to be confused with Colbee from Wungal in Sydney. We are of the line of Colebee>
Colebee (aka Coleby, Coley) succeeded in accomadating and adapting to the ways of the new colonial masters. It was he whom accompanied William Cox in the construction of the road across the Blue Mountains in 1814, including acting as a guide during the European-led punitive expedition against the Gundungurra in 1816. The fact that those 14 men, women, and children were killed at their camp near Appin were found by the only European party that did not have any Darug guides attached seems to indicate that the Darug guides led them away.Colebee and Nurragingy were granted a parcel of land by Governor Macquarie in 1816, finalised in 1819. The land granted in present day Blacktown was originally named BLACKSTOWN, Nurragingy and his family farmed the land until 1833 when the nearby Native Institution closed it's doors. Nurragingy was said to never be the same after the death of his life long Mudjin Colebee, and it has been suggested that the farm went unattended during Nurragingy's months of mourning.
The land presented is at present day adjacent to Richmond Road to Bells Creek on Boongarrunbee, what would later become known as Blackstown which is also related to a black place of residence.
Colebee took the name Samuel Colebee and Married a young woman, Black Kitty, from the prospect Warmuli clan who had attended the Parramatta Institution. Colebee and Black Kitty had a son and named him Samuel Colebee, who it has been said became a farmer, a native constable and eventually found his calling for the sea.
Later and after some time in mourning for her late husband Maria fell in love and married a convict by the name of Robert LOCK on the 26th January 1826 at St Johns Cathedral Burramattagal.
The traditional term: Balagayman Boorooraralyung Boongarrunbee living around Yulang and country.
Maria LOCK 1805-1878 Biography of the family. Robert Lock died on 23 August 1854 aged 53 years and was buried 2 days later at st Bartholomew's Church on Boot Hill at Prospect.
Our great grandparents are the distinguished Darcy WEBB and Eva Agnes WEBB (nee LOCK).
Eva Agnes WEBB was recorded as the last of the traditional speakers of the Dharug dalang. Our clan of Boorooberongal are Mudyin-ga Warmuli through marriage lines.
Boorin (Charley Moran was the leader of the Warmuli clan) We are of the bloodline of Boorooberongal Iyura who lived between Burramattagal, Wyuan, Toongabbie, Mariyung, Bulwarra, Bula and as far south as Mogo, Woolongong and the Yillawarra.
At the turn of the century many of the families were separated from each other and spread across the area between Burramattagal, Blackstown and including the lands of the strong brothers Dhurrawal and Thurrawal in present day Campbelltown, Bankstown and the inner Bidjigal, Gadigal, Gammereigal, and Gweagal, lands of the Dharawal nations and as far south as Mulgo Walbanji, Wollongong Wuululuwungawayu.
Today numerous relatives are making continued contact and we are all speaking the languages of our ancestors. Living descendants of the Gweagal, Gammeray on the Northern Shore and Wungal.
Nam-brimbrii. ngaya yellamudie yuu yabun-ra dane iyura nuruwa, diya dah bannang.
Let the rivers run - let all people be one colour. I am s story teller and singer for people on country, this is blood.
Dyingurang (grandmother) Amy GREEN (WEBB) was Yarramundies great grandaughter and is my own Dyingurang.
Wally and Amy GREEN/WEBB had eight children, in birth order:
Daphne, Keith ,Irene ,Valerie ,Josephine ,Walter (Wally 2nd) ,Beverly and Patricia.
Other surviving Darugule, Dharawal-Bidjigal Darkinyung and Yuen Gurik and Walbanji descendants include families such as BELL, BROPHY, BROWN , CASTLES, COOPER, DICKSON, ELLA, EVERINGHAM, FRANKS and GREEN. HAYTON and LONGBOTTOM, MORAN, MORGAN, MURRAY and NAYLOR. PARSONS, RUSSELS, SIMMS, SMITH, STEWARTS, STUBBINGS and SHEARDS. TANGYE,TIMBERRY, WALKER, WARD and WEST.
There are other names to be included as people are made aware of the Dharug Dalang and contribute to this site.