| Aboriginal History | 
Source: SA Museum
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Aboriginal sites on the River Murray
The River Murray and its environs is one of the richest sources of Aboriginal archaeological and heritage sites in Australia.
There are many hundreds of Aboriginal sites along the River. They include scarred trees, burial sites, campsites, canoe tree sites, hidden sites and earth sites. These sites are often not accessible as many are on private property.
A site that may be of interest to the public that can be visited is within the Devon Downs Conservation Park and features rock art and carvings on the river's cliff face. Also, when travelling along the highways and roads along the Murray River, tourist information signs will highlight the location of sites such as scarred trees that can be visited.
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How did Aborigines use the River Murray prior to European settlement?
Aboriginal people that lived along the River Murray used it for many purposes.
Apart from the obvious source of water, foods were also retrieved from the area. Fish were caught by using nets and traps and local fauna such as birds, kangaroos and wallabies and other mammals were hunted in the area. The area also provided other foods that could be collected for eating.
Apart from the River itself the surrounding environs were also used for campsites, as well as for ceremonies and funeral practices. The area also provided materials to make equipment and tools, reeds were used to make baskets and fish traps and the bark of trees was used to make canoes and shields.
The River was used for transport and as a trading route between communities. The river was also used for fun and recreation for swimming and as a play area for children, just as it is today.
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What is the 'dream time story' of the creation of the River?
Ngurunderi is the all powerful ancestor of the Coorong people, it was his journey to the Coorong that created the Murray River and its surrounds. Ngurunderi was chasing a large Murray Cod (ponde), throwing his spear at it many times, each time the Cod escaped, rushing forward and thus creating the river. In its attempts to escape the fish turned to and from, creating the numerous bends we now see in the river. At last the giant fish arrived at Lake Alexandrina, where it floundered about in the shallows.
Ngurunderi and his family soon arrived to find the old warrior named Nepele was there before them. Joining forces they killed the giant fish. The place where they killed it is now a sandbank in the lake. Ngurunderi then cut the fish into small pieces throwing each piece into the water. The pieces came to life and swam away, some as codfish, some as catfish, mullet etc. Finally there remained only the bones, which Ngurunderi cut up and through into the water, these turned into the bony bream, still frustrating to any person that tries to eat it.
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