Aboriginal History of Bingi-Congo Walking Track

The article below is also posted at the Bingi Dreaming track, Eurobodalla National Park. More information here.

Bingi is a Dhurga (Aboriginal language spoken from south of Nowra to Narooma) word meaning stomach. When repeated as in Bingi Bingi Point it indicates abundance and therefore is interpreted to mean an abundance of food is available in this area.

The Bingi-Congo walking track forms part of the Dreaming Track utilised by the Brinja-Yuin people prior to European development. The walking track (as did the Dreaming Track) brings you in close proximity to shell middens, stone quarries, knapping sites, campsites and fresh water sources. There were also beacon sites for sending smoke signals, areas abundant in a particular foods and lookouts traditionally used for spotting schools of fish and visitors (wanted or unwanted) to the area

The Dreaming Tracks were also utilised by early European settlers in order to make contact with the local Aboriginal people and reference is made of such in several journals. The tracks were about 1.5 meters wide and kept clear by periodic light burning (firestick farming).  It was not uncommon for the Europeans to encounter groups of Aboriginal people in camps, in transit, gathering food or collecting materials.

The Dreaming Track although used as a highway had a much deeper spiritual significance to the Aboriginal people in that it was, and still is believed, that the Spirit Ancestors of the people created the Dreaming Track in the journey of creation across the land. Dreaming Tracks are sometimes referred to as song lines so named because individuals had to know the songs to successfully navigate the area, particularly if they were visiting another’s country. At times however they fulfil an entirely different function, particularly in ceremony.

The Dreaming Tracks traditionally connected to every place visited by the local Aboriginal people, then every place utilised by the neighbouring clans until all the Aboriginal people in Australia were connected by these unique highways. People from opposite sides of Australia did not necessarily meet but the opportunity was there for those that desired. Many trade routes followed the course of the Dreaming Tracks.

While enjoying this unique experience please respect the land and her dwellers for we are all one.