Placenames and Features of Derbal Nara

Placenames of Derbal Nara

The place names of Derbal Nara have meanings that are connected to cultural stories, cultural practices, animals, plants, relationships and the weather. Place names may not be fixed with singular meanings. Rather there may be multiple descriptions or phenomena and complex layers of meaning attached to the same place.

An 1833 issue of Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal shows how the colonial settlers realised that Nyungars had substantial biophysical knowledge and cultural appreciation of their own country:

The following distinctions in the description of the country, will show that these savages are not destitute of geological knowledge. It is highly probable that in their poetical compositions would be found allusions to the origin of the different divisions in the country here enumerated, and all lying to the Westward of the Blue mountains (i.e. Darling Ranges); for a doubt can now be hardly entertained that the whole of Quartania is of recent formation.1

Place Audio pronunciation English  Additional information
Beeliar The suburb of Beeliar Lat and Long
32° 7'40.77"S 115°47'33.98"E
Booyeembara Booyeembara Park Rocks. The division along the coast, consisting principally of limestone rock; and generally bearing the Balga (Xanthorrhoea) and a few Eucalpytus (white gum). Booyeembara Park was recently developed behind Fremantle and named after this usage.
Lat and Long: 32° 3'24.53"S 115°45'59.56"E
Coolbellup North Lake The place to move to the water.
Coolbellup now also refers to a whole suburb.
Lat and Long: 32° 4'39.35"S 115°49'30.51"E
Derbal Nara Cockburn Sound This includes Mangles Bay, Cockburn Sound, Owen's Anchorage, Gage Roads, and the whole space from the main to the islands, and from Collie Head to the Northern entrance beyond Rottnest. 
Lat and Long: 32°10'46.42"S 115°42'13.26"E
Gilgit Nyunakil   Fishing Boat Harbour  
Jilbup Thompsons Lake Place of grass. 
Note that the season Djilba is a time when green grass is abundant.
Lat and Long: 32° 9'1.00"S 115°49'39.10"E
Kogolup Kogolup Lake Place of the quokka.
Lat and Long: 32° 7'54.28"S 115°49'56.07"E
Manjaree Bathers Beach A place where a fair or place of trade occurs; where families of people gather for kinship and in-law making; where mothers, fathers, and old people get together; and where young men and women whom have cone of age meet future husbands and wives. 
Lat and Long: 32° 3'28.16"S 115°44'28.74"E
Meeandip Garden Island Blood root, wounded.
Lat and Long: 32°11'49.84"S 115°40'27.23"E
Ngooloormíyup Carnac Island The place of my brother in-law; little brother. 
Lat and Long: 32° 7'17.36"S 115°39'44.07"E
Swipe to see more

Features of Derbal Nara

The named features of the coastal environment are key to understanding the cultural landscape in which Nyungar live.
Feature Audio pronunciation English
Boodjar Land
Boodjar-gordo An island
Boorda Valley
Booyee Rock
Dalagooroo The sound of the wind blowing
Dogee Rain
Gabbee-wodin Main ocean
Gooiara Sand
Katta Hill
Maaman mar Sea breeze
Maar-book The firmament - also used to denote air
Meeka-derbaga The moon is set
Nanga-banya A hot or sweating sun
Nanga-ngnardog The sun is setting
Nangar The stars
Walgen Rainbow
Wardan Sea
Wardan gaba boodjera Sea side
Yorga mar Easterly land breeze

References

  1. Lyon, R. M. ‘A Glance at the Manners, and Language of the Aboriginal Inhabitants of Western Australia; With a Short Vocabulary’, Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal, 20 April 1833, 63-64.

Contact

Address

City of Cockburn
Whadjuk Boodjar
9 Coleville Crescent,
Spearwood 6163

PO Box 1215, Bibra Lake DC,
Western Australia, 6965

Office opening hours:
8.30am to 4.30pm
Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

Language Support

Fire Danger Rating

Social Media

Cockburn Nyungar moort Beeliar boodja-k kaadadjiny. Koora, yeyi, benang baalap nidja boodja-k kaaradjiny.
Ngalak kaditj boodjar kep wer kaadidjiny kalyakool yoodaniny, wer koora wer yeyi ngalak Birdiya koota-djinanginy.

The City of Cockburn acknowledges the Nyungar people of Beeliar Boodjar. Long ago, now and in the future they care for Country.
We acknowledge a continuing connection to Land, Waters and Culture and pay our respects to Elders, past and present.