There are fourteen language groups which make up the Bundjalung Nation,
caring for country which extends from Grafton to Tweed Heads and west to
Woodenbong.
Tuntable Falls lies within the area of the Bundjalung Nation, which was traditionally cared for by the Wiyabal language group, or clan for many thousands of years.
White settlers have been in the area for less than 150 years. The mountain areas are sacred and were once the domain of the Nmbynge, the little hairy people. The clever-men of the Bundjalung also stayed in caves in the mountains and were said to be able to fly, as well as being knowledgeable about the many healing rainforest plants.
We don’t know much about this valley except that it was not used for permanent habitation. However, a grinding stone and various other tools have been found, indicating that the people did camp here occasionally.
Initiation ceremonies were held in adjacent valleys, at Terania and Gungas, and there is a stone tool making site at Protestor’s Falls. The materials (often
chalcedony) used for tools were traded from far away, so they can often be
recognised because of their difference from local stone.
Special ochres from the mountain were mined, and probably also traded, for use in ceremony. Messages were sent across the land by way of tapping on the buttress roots of the big rainforest trees and there were walking tracks leading across the mountains which were used in the seasonal migrations to and from the coast.
There are many rainforest plants and trees which were used as food and medicine by the people. These include the macadamia nut, riberry and davidson plum which are native to this area and now commercially grown.
The valley and the rainforest was and is a vast and precious spiritual and economic resource to the Bundjalung people and we respect and value it as such also.
Bundjalung is a living language and Cecil Roberts, Gilbert Laurie, Mark Roberts and other residents of the Nimbin Rocks and the Nimbin Bundjalung community are open to sharing what they know of their ancient history.