About the Dja Dja Wrung - The Jaara People

The land of the Dja Dja Wrung takes in the catchment area for the Loddon, Campaspe and Avoca Rivers in the Riverine region of central/western Victoria. Bendigo is the largest city in Dja Dja Wrung country. Other cities and towns are Wedderburn, Castlemaine, St Arnaud, Maryborough, Boort, Heathcote and Maldon.

Today Bendigo is still the cultural centre of Dja Dja Wrung territory. The Dja Dja Wrung Aboriginal Association Inc. in Bendigo is an organisation that was formed in 1982, initially by students to service the needs of Aboriginal people in the area. The Board is made up of directors from Bendigo, Heathcote, Castlemaine, Kyneton and Maryborough.

Some of the Dja Dja Wrung clans are:

• Wangaro-bulluk
• Beal-bulluk
• Burong-bulluk
• Terack-bulluk
• Learka-bulluk (Liarga-balug) - near Mt Tarrengower and Maldon
• Kalkalgoondeet
• Konangara balluk
• Gal Gal Bulluk (Galgal Balug) - Mt Mitchell and Burnbank
• Wornbulluk
• Turingbulluk
• Yongbulluk

 

Totems

The two moeity totems of the Jaara people are Bunjil the Eaglehawk and Waang the Crow.

 

Further information...

To learn more about the Jaara people, contact:

Dja Dja Wrung Aboriginal Association Inc.
13-15 Forest Street
Bendigo Vic. 2550
Tel: 5441 5367
Fax: 5441 6472

 

A Dja Dja Wrung Story

Click above to read an interview with Rodney Carter.