Indigenous History

Rock engravings found in the Woomera region

Wild Dog Creek after rain

The traditional landowners of the area surrounding Woomera Village and the Range are the Kokatha people. This region is rich in Kokatha tradition and mythology. Dreaming tracks such as 'Seven Sisters Dreaming' run through the area telling how the women became the Pleiades star constellation (Tindale, 1959, 1986).

In this... myth the... women ultimately travelled southward to a place... where they entered the ground. Changing state... the girls then went into the heaven above, where, in the beginning of the season of cold... they made their appearance in the dawn sky and 'walked' across the heavens (Tindale 1986:28).

Eucolo Creek is a site of significance which has Aboriginal engravings protected by the Aboriginal Heritage Act (1988). Due to the delicate nature of the site, in 1999 members of the Kokatha People's Committee in cooperation with the Defence Support Centre Woomera (DSCW) rehabilitated the site and started to control visitation to the area.

When Woomera was selected as the location for a rocket range it was generally accepted that the region was uninhabited except for pastoralists and Indigenous Australians. The Indigenous people of the area were living a traditional, nomadic lifestyle and subsequently moved to settled areas to survive in the changing landscape. This movement from the traditional lifestyle was heavily influenced by pastoralists who fenced off once prolific hunting grounds and a drought between 1914 - 1915 in north-western South Australia.

Only a small number of Indigenous people live in Woomera today. However an Indigenous Liaison Officer represents the needs of the Indigenous people and their country, facilitating a harmonious relationship between the traditional landowners, the Department of Defence and pastoralists.

Access to sites of cultural significance must be arranged in advance and can be coordinated with the Manager Base Services or the Indigenous Liaison Officer.

Contents of the Indigenous History section have been viewed and approved by the DSCW Indigenous Liaison Officer and Kokatha representative of the South Australian Heritage Committee (Department for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation).