1770s

1776

These are some of the names of the Darug clans and the area in which they lived, Bediagal - Georges River, Bidjigal - Castle Hill, Boolbainora - Wentworthville, Burraberongal - Richmond, Burramattagal - Parramatta, Cabrogal - Liverpool, Cannemegal (warmuli) - Prospect, Cattai - Windsor, Gomerrigal (tongara) South Creek, Kurrajong, Mulgoa- Penrith/ Mulgoa, Tugagal - Toongabbie, Wandeandegal- Warrawarry - Eastern Creek clan/ Blacktown. The suffix (gal) was added to the place names to distinguish the male members of the clan which (galleon) was to denote the females.

The people of the Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers are archaeologically rich. Many sites containing silcrete stone tool manufacturing evidence exist. The Cumberland plain has significant sites such as the emu and kangaroo ochre and charcoal drawings in the Warragamba area. The Dreaming hero, Garangatch the giant eel is commemorated in drawings along stone walls in rock shelters. The Megalong Valley has rich tool sites and habitation sites. There are areas near rivers where axe grinding grooves can be found. The open sites of scattered stone artifacts marking their campsites and tool sites were often not recognized by the explorers and later settlers.

  • Mangrove Creek in Western Sydney, 11,000 years of Aboriginal habitation