Maraura (NSW)

LocationFrom Wentworth on northern bank of Murray River downstream to Chowilla and Ral Ral, So. Aust., on western and the Anabranch of the Darling River to Popilta Lake; on the main Darling River upsteam to Avoca. Color plate 6 is relevant. Taplin (1879; 168) records a southward migration down the Darling River, to the above location, between 1831 and 1836. Moorhouse in a letter dated 1842 cited the name of the country northeast of Lake Bonney, known to his Kaurna tribe helpers as Mettelittela Yerta, which can best be translated as 'the stolen land' or 'the land of thieves.' Five hordes have been mentioned with the following original spellings: Condelkoo, Boolkarlie, Moattilkoo, Bullalre, and Toopparlie. Lockhart indicated that in 1857 they frequented Lake Victoria in summer and the back plains in winter after rains had filled small waterholes.
Co-ordinates141°30'E x 33°45'S
Area2,200 sq. m. (5,700 sq. km.)
ReferencesEyre, 1845; Lockhart, 1862 MS (N.S.W. archives); Holden in Taplin, 1872, 1879; Goodwin in Smyth, 1878; Taplin, 1872, 1879; Moorhouse in Taplin, 1879; Fison and Howitt, 1880; Bulmer in Curr, 1886; Fraser in Threlkeld, 1892; Mathews, 1898 (Gr. 6464); Richards, 1903; Howitt, 1904; Brown, 1918; Tindale, 1939, 1940, 1941, and MS.
Alternative NamesMareawura (valid pronunciation of name), Mareaura, Maroura, Marowra, Marowera, Marraa' Warree', Marrawarra, Waimbio (['wimbaia] = ['wimbadja] = man), Wimbaja, Wiimbaio (there is said to be a Wa-imbo horde in the neighboring Barkindji tribe), Beriko (language name), Ilaila ([i:la] = no).
Inventory Listings