Incumbent Murrundindi since February 2006; 18 years ago (2006-02)
Type
Customary law of the Wurundjeri people
A Ngurungaeta is a Woiwurrung head man or tribal leader of clans of the Woiwurrung tribes and Taungurung Ngurai-illum Wurrung.[1][2] Ngurungaeta held the same tribal standing as an Arweet of the Bunurong and Wathaurong people. The current Ngurungaeta is Murrundindi. The term became of particular importance as an identifier of senior men prepared to accept Anglo control in the latter part of the 19th century. It is unlikely that the term was used to express genuine recognition of senior members of traditional groups in the Melbourne area after the 1840s, following the death of Billibellary c. 1846.[citation needed]
Identified later Ngurungaeta include:
Bebejan – said by some Europeans to have been a member of the group alleged to have signed the 1835 treaty with John Batman[3]
Billibellary, (1799–1846) – said to have been a ngurungaeta of the Wurundjeri-willam clan. An important Woiwurung man at the time of the Anglo invasion of Port Phillip.
Simon Wonga (1824–1874) – an adolescent at the time of the Anglo occupation of Melbourne. Son of Billibellary
William Barak (1824–1903) – last traditional ngurungaeta of the Wurundjeri-willam clan
Robert Wandoon (1854–1908) – born at Coranderrk and said to have been anointed ngurungaeta, together with other men, by William Barak[4]
James Wandin (1933–2006) – claimed by some family members to be a ngurungaeta of the Wurundjeri[5]
Murrundindi – appointed ngurungaeta at the funeral of James Wandin in 2006[6]
^First Peoples, GaryPresland
^Martin Flanagan, Tireless ambassador bids you welcome, The Age, 25 January 2003. Accessed 31 October 2008
^Murrundindi and his people. Accessed 1 November 2008
^Ian Hunter, Wurundjeri Lineage Archived 4 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 1 November 2008
^James Wandin, Opening statement to the Victorian Parliament Victorian parliament website, 26 May 2000. Accessed 31 October 2008
^Rebecca Fraser, New title ‘better than being Prime Minister’, Star News Group, 9 March 2006. Accessed 1 November 2008
A Ngurungaeta is a Woiwurrung head man or tribal leader of clans of the Woiwurrung tribes and Taungurung Ngurai-illum Wurrung. Ngurungaeta held the same...
people". Ngurungaeta: Bebejan (?-1836): ngurungaeta, and William Barak's father and Billibellary's brother Billibellary (1799–1846): ngurungaeta of the...
the Hawkesbury River Aboriginal community William Barak (1824–1903) – ngurungaeta of Wurundjeri, police tracker, then artist Barangaroo (c.1750–1791) –...
Simon Wonga (c. 1824–1874), ngurungaeta and son of Billibellary, was an elder of the Wurundjeri people, who lived in the Melbourne area of Australia before...
the "last chief of the Yarra Yarra tribe", was the last traditional ngurungaeta (elder) of the Wurundjeri-willam clan, the pre-colonial inhabitants of...
Murrundindi, is the ngurungaeta of the Wurundjeri people and a descendant of William Barak. He succeeded James Wandin in this position in February 2006...
1933 – 20 February 2006), also known as Jim, Jimmy, or Juby, was the ngurungaeta of the Wurundjeri till his death in February 2006. He was the first Australian...
Arweet is a leader or headman and holds a similar tribal standing as a ngurungaeta of the Wurundjeri people. Notable Arweet include: Derrimut (1810c - 1864)...
Billibellary (c. 1799–10 August 1846) was a song maker and influential ngurungaeta of the Wurundjeri-willam clan during the early years of European settlement...
1796, died August 1836) also known as Bebejern or Jerum Jerum, was a Ngurungaeta (Leader -pronounced ung-uh-rung-eye-tuh) of the Wurundjeri people of...
she is the great-great niece to William Barak, the last traditional ngurungaeta of the Wurundjeri-willam clan. Her older brother (Juby) James Wandin...
for the Richmond Football Club James Wandin (1933–2006) – a Wurundjeri ngurungaeta and Australian Rules footballer with St Kilda Joy Murphy Wandin – a Wurundjeri...
the inland northern tribe. N'arweet held the same tribal standing as a ngurungaeta of the Wurundjeri people. Bengali (horde near Geelong) Borumbeet Bulluk...
Brough-Smyth saw the game played at Coranderrk Mission Station, where ngurungaeta (elder) William Barak discouraged the playing of imported games like...
transcription of three songs performed by William Barak, the last traditional ngurungaeta (elder) of the Wurundjeri-willam clan Michael Dwyer, known as the "Wicklow...
policeman to avoid a conflict of interest between his duties as a Wurundjeri ngurungaeta. After about a year, Billibellary resigned from the Native Police Corps...
a ngurungaeta of the Wurundjeri people. On 13 January 2007 at the Yarra Flats Billabongs the Shire of Yarra Ranges with Murrundindi, ngurungaeta of the...
Brough-Smyth saw the game played at Coranderrk Mission Station, where ngurungaeta William Barak discouraged the playing of imported games like cricket...
(Boorat), and in turn, her son Robert Wandin (Wandoon). Bebejan was a Ngurungaeta of the Wurundjeri people and was present at John Batman's "treaty" signing...
transcription of three songs performed by William Barak, the last traditional ngurungaeta (elder) of the Wurundjeri-willam clan. Among other works, he produced...
the Mitchellstown depot in February of that year. At that time, their ngurungaeta was Weeng-her-bil. They were said to be numerous and in good condition...
Global Information