The 'Aboriginal Histories in the City Subiaco' (2008) is a report that was commissioned by the City of Subiaco to document the Aboriginal histories within the area of Subiaco that would form the basis of future inclusive plans and programs. The area of Subiaco is part of the country of Aboriginal people of the southwest known collectively as Nyungars.
This report is mainly written from early materials compiled by settlers and explorers such as Lyon, Moore, Armstrong, Grey and Symmons during the early 1800's. These materials can be found in the State Library of Western Australia, Subiaco Library and the University of Western Australian.
The report also acknowledges the importance of conducting oral histories with Aboriginal people that "will help fill gaps that emerge in written records and allow for a review of Aboriginal peoples' association with Subiaco taking account of the importance of oral traditions for Nyungar and Aboriginal people... Despite radical changes to the landscape, Nyungar connections to Subiaco are kept alive by an oral tradition..." (Jebb and Stella, 2008, p.4).
The Aboriginal Histories in the City of Subiaco' (2008) report states about the relationship between the local Nyungar people country boundaries and those of the City of Subiaco...
"...The information from these documents does not provide a neat match between the local government boundaries of contemporary Subiaco and the boundaries Nyungar people might have used to name it. They refer, however to local Aboriginal peoples' social organisation and land relationships, individual names, events and experiences in the areas of the Swan River, Mount Eliza, Monger's Lake, Butler's Bay, Crawley Bay and Perth areas that either include Subiaco area, abut or surround it " (Jebb and Stella, 2008, p.8)...
"...Yellagonga's Country... A map created in 1832 by Robert Menli Lyon translated from Yagan while he was captive on Carnac Island, places Subiaco in Mooro, labeled as 'Yellowgonga's territory', stretching from the sea to the north bank of the Swan River. Including Mount Eliza and Perth to Ellen's Brook. This territory of the Swan and Canning rivers collectively called the 'Whadjug Tribe'. It also suggests that the Lakes Ngoogemboro (Herdsman Lake) and Galup (Monger's Lake) were important locations in the wider territory..."
Those who are not familiar with the work of Daisy Bates, The Aboriginal Histories of the City of Subiaco (2008) writes about Daisy Bates... "Daisy Bates was employed by the Aborigines Department in the early 19 th century to 'find out how many Aboriginal people there might be in Western Australia, who they were and to record some of their language and culture. Daisy Bates recorded information that fills in some of the gaps of the written historical record as worked with Perth Aboriginal people who were alive after 1900." (Jebb and Stella, 2008, p.6).
"...Daisy Bates wrote some of the stories behind some of the Nyungar names for places in Claremont, Subiaco, and Perth in 1909. While it is difficult to say how accurate she was in her rendition, the country is clearly storied by Nyungar people..."Wandaraguttagurrup was the high sounding title of part only of the present Subiaco. Nyeergardup was Peppermint Grove, Man'ing'yup, Butler's Swamp, Beeereeup, Point Walter, and Karbomunup the hill at Claremont where the Osborne Hotel was after built (1895)...
The paragraph about Wandaraguttagurrup, by Daisy Bates appeared in her article 'Oldest Perth: The days before the white man won' in the Western Mail 1909, December 25. The article includes the following statements relevant to the identification of Subiaco..." (Jebb and Stella, 2008, p.21-24).
References
Jebb, M. A. & Stella, L. 2008. Aboriginal Histories in the City of Subiaco. City of Subiaco : Subiaco W.A.
