The Murranji land claim

Abstract

The first phase of European entry into Mudbura and Djingili countries took place from 1860 with the expeditions of John McDoual l Stuart and the construction of the Adelaide-Port Darwin telegraph line. European knowledge of those lands of the Northern Territory ranged by Mudbura and Djingili people was drawn principally from the reports and information provided by the men of these parties. Alexander Forrest's exploration of an area north-west of Daly Waters telegraph station in 1879 and other forays from the safety of the line confirmed the initial reports of the aridity and - to European eyes - barren nature of much of the country to the west of the telegraph line from Powell Creek to Daly Waters. Explorers and telegraph workers gained considerable knowledge of the Aboriginal occupants of this region but few Europeans sought, or recognised, the value of such knowledge. Scientific expeditions made for the purpose of gathering information about Aborigines such as those of Basedow, Chewings and Spencer and Gillen, were also a part of the initial phase of Europe an entry. Like the exploratory journeys and the telegraph construction, they probably had a minor effect on the traditions, practices and beliefs of Mudbura and Djingili people and on the range of country in which they lived.