History
The Mid West’s Indigenous and European history is as diverse as its landscape.
For thousands of years the region has been home to many different groups of Indigenous people. The main language groups of people recognised today are;
- Nanda people who’s country is in the northern coastal part of the region,
- Nagguja people in the southern coastal part of the region,
- Amangu people located in the Geraldton and greater Geraldton region including the north midlands around Morawa,
- Wajarri people located in the Murchison around Mullewa and as far north as Meekatharra,
- Badimia people further inland from Yalgoo, Paines Find and Mt Magnet areas; and
- The Western Desert people who are located further east around Wiluna on the edge of the Gibson and Little Sandy Deserts.
Collectively, the region's Indigenous population is known as Yamaji People.
Today much of the knowledge and traditional customs of the Wajjari, Naguuja, Nanda, Amangu and Badimia language groups have been lost due to dispossession of homelands. The dominance of western culture has slowly eroded the culture of the various groups of Yamaji peoples. However spirit and identity for these groups of people remains very strong.
Before European colonisation Indigenous people lived according to the rhythm of the land. Laws and customs were (and in many places still are) determined by the stories of the dreaming spirits. These stories underpin a complex social structure which determines things like where a man or woman can go, the food they may eat, the springs or water they can drink from.
Dutch people were the first Europeans to make an impact on the Mid West. Most famously in 1629 the Dutch trading ship the Batavia ran aground at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands off the Mid West coast. Forty eight of the ships crew including the Commodore Pelsaert set out to look for water in the ships life boats. They eventually sort help in Jakarta. The others remained behind on the tiny barren islands where mutiny and bloodshed ensued. Over 125 people were killed in the mutiny. Several months later when the remaining survivors were rescued the mutineers were tried. Some were punished by execution immediately; two were marooned on the mainland and others taken back to Jakarta where most were executed.
European exploration and settlement of the region commenced in the early 1800’s following the settlement of Perth. Lieutenant George Gray explored and named many of the coastal geographical features on a voyage to the Shark Bay region and subsequent trek south to Perth. Several early explorers and surveyors followed him including Robert Austin, Augustus and Francis Gregory.
By the 1850’s pastoralism and agriculture as well as lead and copper mining industries began to establish in the region. Early settlements in the region included Champion Bay, which has now become Geraldton, Northampton and Mullewa. By the late 1880’s gold prospectors were also seeking their fortune in the region with Cue, Mt Magnet and Yalgoo the focus areas. Later in the 20th century the substantial value of other local commodities including local rock lobster, petroleum and other minerals were recognised.
The region has witnessed numerous periods of economic and population growth and decline in the time since European Australians have made the Mid West their home. Today the region is made up of 18 local government authorities. Pastoralism, Agriculture, Mining and Fishing industries have been joined by tourism and service industries as the economic basis for the region.
For further reading on the history of the region see the
Gascoyne Murchison Outback Pathways Guidebook.
References:
Yamaji Cultural Trial, Project Development and Marketing Plan.
http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/collections/maritime/march/shipwrecks/Batavia/batavia.html
Gascoyne Murchison Outback Pathways Guide Book, Designed and produced by Market Creations for the Mid West Development Commission, Author -Samille Mitchell.