Ceduna History
The Far West Coast of South Australia has been home to aboriginal people for at least 40,000 years. The land is semi-arid to arid and dominated by the Nullarbor Plain and the vast mallee woodland to the north; and the waters of the Great Australian Bight provide an incredible bounty. Sandy beaches and rocky platforms alternate in the sheltered bays between Ceduna and the towering Bunda Cliffs which start at the Head of Bight all the way to the border with Western Australia.
The Aboriginal people of the Far West Coast made a living from the sea from the earliest times; some of the first archaeological evidence of their presence is a fish vertebra found in the caves of the Nullarbor, and depictions of fish on wooden tools.
In addition to being a source of sustenance, the sea is an important part of their culture. The Mirning people of the west are 'people of the whale', and have songs they sing to Southern Right whales. The sea lion and sea eagle are likewise important totems for the Wirangu people, and the saltwater families of the Kokatha people have a number of beaches and fishing spots which are sacred to them.
The Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation has looked after country on behalf of the Far West Coast traditional owners since their native title was recognised in 2013. The Far West Coast native title claim combined the claims of the six different cultural groups of the region: the Mirning people, the Wirangu people, the Kokatha (Gugada) people, the Yalata people, the Maralinga Tjarutja people, and the descendants of Edward Roberts.
Read more visit: https://www.ceduna.sa.gov.au/council/history