We camped at Bourke for a spell to travel back in time to ancient lands and customs - I love this area .... too! Stretching for around half a kilometre along the bed of the Barwon River 90-odd Km east from Bourke, are the Brewarrina Fish Traps. An elaborate network of rock channels and pools, these fish traps were built by ancient aboriginal tribes to capture and store fish as they swam upstream to spawn. Estimated by archaeologists to be over 40,000 years old, these clever rock configurations are believed to be one of the oldest man-made structures on Earth. Not only were they essential as a food collection point, they provided a gathering place for many tribes and nations for trade, cultural exchange and ceremony. According to our generous guide, a Ngemba man, the Fish Traps have become a symbol of unity among the eight regional aboriginal tribes.
Flat stretches of the riverbank were once the site of corroborees. The ochre for ceremonial decoration came from the riverbank downstream a wee way. This mixed with crushed mica for glitter must have looked rather splendid!
If you get to Brewarrina, the Aboriginal Cultural Museum is worth a visit. More on the Ngemba people next .....
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| An historic lift span bridge, one of 4 built in the 1880-90s on the Barwon-Darling |
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| This is the Barwon River which together with the Culgoa River is the head of the Darling (there's a weir not far downstream |
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This 1890s photo of the fish traps shows a coupe of people picking up fish from one of the collecting pools
(foreground) |
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| Sadly there was no water around the fish traps when we were there |
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| The Ochre banks |
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| A sad river at the moment |
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