Chooreechillum: The Highest Mountain in Queensland
Australia is a land rich with history, culture and spiritual significance, deeply intertwined with the enduring connection of First Nations peoples to Country.
As we embark on this monthly series of articles, "Truth Telling: Recognising Australia's First Nations Heritage", about places of significance across the Australian continent, it is fitting to begin by reflecting on the importance of formally acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of these lands.
An acknowledgment of the Traditional Owners is far more than a ceremonial gesture. It is a profound recognition of Australia's First Nations peoples' unbroken custodianship of the land, spanning tens of thousands of years.
This "Welcome to Country" protocol serves to honour an enduring connection to the land, waters and skies while promoting respect, fostering inclusivity and supporting reconciliation efforts.
It also raises awareness of the historical and ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous communities, highlighting the need to address past injustices and advocate for the full recognition of Indigenous rights.
Through acknowledging Traditional Owners and sharing their stories, we take a step towards understanding and celebrating the rich cultural tapestry of Australia.
This series seeks to honour these connections and inspire deeper appreciation for the landscapes we traverse and the histories they hold.
Chooreechillum - The Highest Mountain in Queensland
The highest mountain in Queensland is known to its Traditional Owners as Chooreechillum, and holds profound spiritual significance for the Noongyanbudda Ngadjon people of Far North Queensland.
For thousands of years, this land was their home, a place where their spirits returned after death to be reborn, maintaining an eternal connection to the mountainside they cherished.
However, this deep bond was severely disrupted with the intrusion of European colonists in the late 19th century, bringing with them displacement, violence and the imposition of policies that destroyed the Ngadjon way of life.
Life Before Colonisation
Traditionally, the Noongyanbudda Ngadjon people lived in harmony with the environment, moving seasonally around the mountainside. They found abundance in its lush rainforests but rarely ventured to the summit, viewing it as a sacred place.
In 1886, Ngadjon men guided prospector Christie Palmerston to the summit after a two-day climb, making him the first European to scale the mountain. This event marked the beginning of deeper incursions into Ngadjon land.
Displacement and Frontier Violence
The arrival of European colonists in the 1880s began a dark chapter in Ngadjon history.
The colonial intruders, drawn by the fertile land, expanded into Ngadjon territory, destroying habitats crucial to their traditional lifestyle. This incursion led to violent conflicts as the colonists armed with rifles retaliated against perceived threats to their crops and livestock.
The Native Mounted Police, often acting as enforcers for settlers, carried out officially sanctioned massacres of Aboriginal people. Described as "the most violent organisation in Australian history," they decimated Ngadjon communities, leaving behind stories of terror and loss.
Disease and Starvation
The introduction of European diseases, including influenza and measles, wreaked havoc on the Ngadjon people. Entire camps were wiped out during epidemics, which further decimated their numbers. The environmental destruction caused by settlers compounded the devastation, leading to widespread food shortages and starvation.
Forcible Removals and Cultural Suppression
By 1897, the Queensland government enacted the Aboriginal Protection Acts, which sought to segregate Aboriginal people from colonial settlements.
Ngadjon families were forcibly relocated to missions like Palm Island, Yarrabah and Monamona. These missions, while offering some refuge from the frontier violence, became places of dehumanisation and cultural suppression. Traditional practices and language were actively discouraged, and families were often torn apart.
Witnesses described heart-wrenching scenes of Ngadjon people being forcibly removed, leaving behind grief-stricken communities. Letters from Palm Island detail the brutal conditions, frequent deaths and despair experienced by those sent there.
Exploitation Through Forced Labour
Under oppressive government policies, Ngadjon people were subjected to forced labour with little or no access to their earnings. Wages were controlled by government-appointed Protectors, who paid out only minimal allowances while withholding the bulk of the funds. This exploitative system further entrenched poverty and dependency.
Aboriginal workers lived in fear of being sent to mission stations, particularly Palm Island, which was regarded as "the ultimate hell." For many, the promise of employment meant enduring harsh conditions under the looming threat of further displacement.
The Legacy of Resilience
The cumulative effects of violence, disease, forced removals and cultural erasure left the Ngadjon population a fraction of its pre-colonial size. Today, only a few Ngadjon people remain who speak their ancestral language. Yet, their resilience endures.
The story of the Noongyanbudda Ngadjon reflects the broader struggles of Indigenous Australians who have faced colonisation and dispossession. Despite immense challenges, they continue to preserve and celebrate their cultural heritage, ensuring that their connection to Chooreechillum remains unbroken.
As Bartle Frere stands tall in the landscape, it serves as a reminder of the spiritual and cultural significance of this land to the Noongyanbudda Ngadjon people, a heritage that cannot be erased and must be honoured.
In our next article, we will explore the story of K'Gari (formerly Fraser Island), part of the traditional homelands of the Butchulla people of Southern Queensland.
