Yurwang Dhaura

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In the heart of one of Gungahlin's newest suburbs is , an indigenous site dating back at least 5000 years. The site's name, , means 'strong ground' in the Ngunnawal language and the site is an amazing way to see and feel the local history. is home to scar trees and was a camping ground and ochre procurement site.

If you look to the ground, you can find artefacts, mainly stone flakes left behind by toolmaking, and once you get your eye in, it's easy to see the sharp lines of the artefacts as you explore the site. There is also a board with a local creation story of Budjabulya, a water spirit who lives in Lake George.





On the surface, this is a small site which has some trees, shrubs and boulders and which you might spend a couple of minutes at. But once you start to look around and reflect, it's easy to get lost in thoughts about how significant this place is and imagine everything that would have happened there. It feels like a living museum where you can sit and wonder just what it would have been like 5000 years ago. You can not only see but touch the trees and artefacts (although you should always replace any artefact and never remove anything from the site). My daughter was completely absorbed by the place and seeing her understand that the history she's been learning about at school unfolded right where she was standing was incredible.

It is amazing that this small pocket of culture and history is nestled, almost unknown, amongst the new houses of Crace but if you are at all interested in learning more about the indigenous history of Canberra, is such a precious space and well worth a visit.

#crace
#cultural_events
#environment
#gungahlin
#history
#learn_something
#outdoor
#parks
%wncanberra