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As promised, the oldest continuously used structure on earth, the Fish Traps.
Baiami Ngunnhu are timeless the guide said today.
Baiami Ngunnhu are timeless the guide said today.
Brad, a local man and museum guide told us a little bit of the culture and history of this place and the activity around it.
This was a sustainable fishery, a fish farm, a river management and conservation system, a meeting place.
This was a sustainable fishery, a fish farm, a river management and conservation system, a meeting place.
It was built 8 nations of people speaking 8 different languages, sharing it together.
Not far from here, Brad told us, the local people grew grains and mix them with fruit and bake them.
Not far from here, Brad told us, the local people grew grains and mix them with fruit and bake them.
History books and online encyclopaedia is will tell you that the people of this area... The people of this continent, were/are just hunters and gatherers.
In this tiny patch of what we now call New South Wales, we can see that these people were/are much more than that.
In this tiny patch of what we now call New South Wales, we can see that these people were/are much more than that.
For at least 40,000 years, these people, Brad's people (and these are his words) have been architects, builders, fish farmers, environmental managers and River conservationists. They're Bakers and farmers.
8 different nations of people shared this fishery together.
8 different nations of people shared this fishery together.
I didn't think it was the purpose of the tour but something that I really took away was how the tragedy of The commons is a lie.
These people wearable able to share this space together for a longer period of time than I can ever fathom.
These people wearable able to share this space together for a longer period of time than I can ever fathom.
Brad told us today, very politely, and without really assigning blame, the myriad of ways colonisers have in less than 200 years completely destabilized this area.
They blew up one half of the river to make it navigable for paddle steamers. Built weirs and dams for cotton fields
They blew up one half of the river to make it navigable for paddle steamers. Built weirs and dams for cotton fields
You might not be able to see it but there's a Weir across the river here.
I asked Brad if he thought they'd ever get rid of the weir. He said: "I bloody hope so, one day."
"Or get rid of the cotton then they don't need the weir."
I asked Brad if he thought they'd ever get rid of the weir. He said: "I bloody hope so, one day."
"Or get rid of the cotton then they don't need the weir."
I'm going to end this thread the same way that Brad ended the tour.
This River is the community, and it remembers the community. It was built as a place of sharing and peace and community.
And it is still doing that, it is still bringing people together, across the world.
This River is the community, and it remembers the community. It was built as a place of sharing and peace and community.
And it is still doing that, it is still bringing people together, across the world.
