The Five Squatting Runs in Old Nathalia Shire

The Five Squatting Runs in Old Nathalia ShireThe Five Squatting Runs in Old Nathalia Shire This book was written for the preservation of a series of articles recently published in the Red Gum Courier on the five squatting runs in the old Nathalia Shire which encompassed the area in the shape of a wedge between the Murray and Goulburn Rivers. The wedge was home to the Bangerang tribes for at least 40,000 years and may be as long as 60,000 years. Before the intrusion of explorers and squatters the

The Five Squatting Runs in Old Nathalia Shire

This book was written for the preservation of a series of articles recently published in the Red Gum Courier on the five squatting runs in the old Nathalia Shire which encompassed the area in the shape of a wedge between the Murray and Goulburn Rivers.

The wedge was home to the Bangerang tribes for at least 40,000 years and may be as long as 60,000 years.  Before the intrusion of explorers and squatters the aborigines of this area with its lakes, swamps, creeks, forests and grassy plains, thrived on an abundance of food already at hand in the form of fish, kangaroos, emus, possums, snakes, lizards etc. also roots, yams and other native vegetables; they were more sedentary than other indigenous folks.  Everything to sustain their way of life was readily available, and if not, they traded with other tribes for commodities such as stone.  Once the intrusion began the Bangerang culture changed forever.  The shock gradually eroded away their way of life as the remnants of the tribes began living near and around the squatters’ homesteads.  Bangerang hunting grounds were diminished both in size and the availability of food as cattle and sheep were depastured on the squatting runs. Early on, the Bangerang did not take their loss lightly; some confrontations did take place when sheep and cattle were “stolen”. 

 84 pages

Author: Lynette E. Franklin