Cultural History of Fraser Island
The local Aboriginal clan on Fraser Island are known as the Butchulla people. Their name for Fraser Island was ‘K’gari’, which means ‘Paradise’. Once you have visited the island we believe you understand why the Butchulla people called Fraser Island ‘K’gari.’ The local population fluctuated in number depending on the season. It is thought that it ranged from 400-600 and up to 2000-3000 during the winter months when there was an abundance of seafood available. During these festive times other clans from Dulingbara in the south and Ngulungbara or Dundubara in the north would visit the Island. Fraser Island is similar to Moreton Island to the south in that there is evidence of occupation from around 1500 years ago- through midden heaps, campsites, fish traps, traditional bora rings and stone tools.
The natural abundance of food both in the ocean and on land bears a resemblance to the Ku Ku Yalanji people of the Daintree region that also had a vast array of seafood, fresh water and rainforest fruit and nuts.
Basin Lake Fraser Island
A major impact on the Aboriginal population was disease. Diseases were introduced by European sailors visiting the Fraser Island area. The island was also used as a quarantine and immigration outpost during the Gympie Gold rush, when a large influx of Chinese and other foreign miners came into Australia. There was a great deal of enslaving of the indigenous people of the island during this time and although the island was designated an aboriginal resrerve in 1860, the poor treatment continued. Following a sharp decline in the local population due to armed conflict, reprisals and disease, Bogimah mission was opened by the Anglican Church in around 1890. After reaching a population of up 180 it was decided that the mission should be closed and the majority of its’ occupants moved to the mainland. Those at the mission were then moved from Fraser Island, in 1904, and placed in similar missions in Caboolture North of Brisbane and Yarabah outside of Cairns in North Queensland.