Ngadjuri (SA)

LocationFrom Angaston and Freeling north to Clare, Crystal Brook, Gladstone, Carrieton, and north of Waukaringa to Koonamore; east to Mannahill; in Orroroo, Peterborough, Burra, and Robertstown districts; inhabitants of the gum forest areas. In the period just before the arrival of white people, they were making movements toward the Murray River near Morgan in aggressive attempts to impose the rite of circumcision on the river people. Miranda was a leading male until his death in 1849. The Mimbara horde remained living in the northern bushlands until 1905, the last 'wild' group in southern South Australia. In their last years these people lived near Quorn, at Riverton, and on Willochra Creek. The term Aluri also spelled variously as Hilleri, Yilrea, Eeleeree, etc., is a general term for several tribes here and on the west coast of South Australia.
Co-ordinates139°0'E x 33°5'S
Area11,500 sq. m. (29,900 sq. km.)
ReferencesAngas, 1847; Noble in Taplin, 1879; LeBrun in Curr, 1886; Valentine in Curr, 1886; East, 1889; Mathews, 1900 (Gr. 6526, 6448), Hossfeld, 1926; Gray, 1930; Elkin, 1931; Tindale, 1937, 1940, 1952, and 1964 MSS; Berndt and Vogelsang, 1941; Tindale and Lindsay, 1963; Berndt, 1965; R. D.J. Weathersbee, 1971 MS.
Alternative NamesNgadluri, Ngaluri, Aluri, Alury, Eeleeree, Hilleri, Hillary, Yilrea, Wirameju (['wira] = gum tree, ['meju] = men, lit. gum forest men), Wirrameyu, Wirramayo, Wirramaya, Wiramaya, Wirra, Weera, Eura (general term for several tribes), Manuri (Nganguruku tribe term, means 'big goana people'), Manuri (Nukunu term, claimed to mean inland people), Manu, Monnoo, Manuley, Youngye (name of language), Boanawari (term meaning 'bat people,' and linked with circumcision; applied by noncircumcising eastern tribes who feared their proselytizing urges) Doora, Burra Burra or Abercrombie tribe (two names for one horde of this tribe), Mimbara (name of the northernmost horde).