Much of the Simpson Desert, in the far north of South Australia, is Wangkangurru country. They also call themselves Nharla, and today they and the neighbouring Yarluyandi hold native title, recognised in 2014, over a large part of the desert.
Country
Norman Tindale estimated Wangkangurru country at about 14,000 square miles (roughly 36,000 square kilometres). It ran north from Stevenson Creek to Mount Dare, took in the lower Finke River and Macumba Creek, and covered the southern Simpson Desert, reaching south-east to the Warburton River and Kallakoopah Creek, and included Atna Hill and Blood Creek. Early outsiders recorded the name in many garbled forms; Tindale noted that one expedition member, writing in 1895, seemed unable to hear some of its sounds, writing "Wonkongnuru".
Language
Wangkangurru is a Pama–Nyungan language, usually treated as a dialect of Arabana and grouped with the Karnic languages. Their self-name Nharla, used for their language subgroup, comes from the Arabana word meaning "man". Neighbouring peoples had their own names for them, including Partama and Wingkungira.
Knowledge and law
The Wangkangurru word minparu describes a man of high degree, a "clever man" or medicine man. One such man, Mick McLean (Irinyili, 1888–1977), was a source of knowledge highly valued by ethnographers such as the linguist Luise Hercus. He knew the song cycles and lore spanning a huge area of northern South Australia, from the Simpson Desert and Dalhousie south to Port Augusta and from Indulkana east to Innamincka. Besides English, he spoke five Aboriginal languages: he was a master of Wangkangurru, Arabana and southern Arrernte, and also competent in Diyari and Antakarinya. His range shows how widely songs, law and languages were shared across the region.
Native title
The Wangkangurru today form a combined group with the Yarluyandi, and a joint Aboriginal corporation speaks for both. Their native title over a broad sweep of the desert was recognised in 2014.
On our maps
Our maps draw approximate Wangkangurru territory in 1600, 1650, 1700, 1715, 1783 and 1800, beside the Yarluyandi and Karangura and with the Arabana to the south-west. The Antakirinja lie further west, and the Pitapita of Queensland to the north-east. See also Australia.
From the atlas
Wangkangurru on our maps
Borders of Time draws Wangkangurru on 6 of its 54 world maps, from 1600 CE to 1800 CE. Its largest extent is on the 1600 CE map, covering about 69,700 km² (26,900 sq mi), roughly the size of Ireland today.
On that map it borders Arabana, Arrernte and the Australian aboriginal hunter-gatherers.
On the map before it appears (1530 CE), the same area belongs to the Australian aboriginal hunter-gatherers. On the map after its last appearance (1815 CE), it belongs to the New South Wales.
- 1600 CE69,700 km²
- 1650 CE69,700 km²
- 1700 CE69,700 km²
- 1715 CE69,700 km²
- 1783 CE69,700 km²
- 1800 CE69,700 km²
Measured from the historical-basemaps snapshots this atlas uses. Borders in those maps are approximate, especially for early periods.
Quick answers
- When did Wangkangurru exist?
- It appears on the atlas’s maps from 1600 to 1800.
- Where was Wangkangurru?
- At its largest, on the 1600 map, its land lies in today’s Australia (100%). On that map it borders Arabana, Arrernte and the Australian aboriginal hunter-gatherers.
- How big was Wangkangurru?
- Wangkangurru was largest on the 1600 map, at about 69,700 km² (26,900 sq mi).