About the Mid West District
Yamatji (Yamaji) People and Country
The Mid West Education District nearly matches the boundary of Yamaji country. Yamaji (or Yamatji) is the collective name for Aboriginal people, country, and region of the Murchison and Gascoyne area of Western Australia. Yamaji country stretches from Carnarvon in the north to Meekatharra in the east, to Jurien in the south.
The term Yamaji is a Wadjarri word meaning "man", but more recently the term has developed in meaning as a collective noun. Yamaji could correctly be described as a Cultural Group. Other Cultural Groups could be Nyungar (south west of Western Australia), Koori (south east of eastern Australia), Murri (south and east Queensland) or Nunga (southern South Australia).
There are many diverse Language Groups in Yamaji country including Naagaja, Nanda, Malagana, Budimia, Wadjarri and Inggada (see the Yamaji Language Centre map for locations and other Language Groups).
In 2001, the Aboriginal population of the Yamaji region was 5665, about 10% of the total population of the region. Most of these people live in Geraldton and Carnarvon. Significant numbers of Aboriginal people also live in the smaller towns of Mullewa, Mt Magnet, Shark Bay, Cue and Gascoyne Junction. There are also rural and remote communities such as Burringurrah, Pia Wadjarri, Yulga Jinna, Barrell Well, Wandanooka, Mungullah and Buttah Windee1.
Key Areas in the District
Major centres in the area include:
- Carnarvon: approximately 438 km north of Geraldton.
- Kalbarri: small seaside town approximately 150 km north of Geraldton. A number of gorges are situated in Kalbarri National Park.
- Dongara: small seaside town situated 60 km south of Geraldton on the Brand Highway.
- Cervantes: fishing village situated approximately 250 km south of Geraldton; one of the newest towns established in WA.
- Geraldton: situated approximately 440 km north of Perth
- Mullewa: situated 96 km east of Geraldton and is the central town in this agricultural municipality.
- Meekathara: gold town 541 km north east of Geraldton.
- Cue: known as 'Queen of the Murchison', is approximately 431 km northeast of Geraldton.
- Mt Magnet: mining town 341 km east of Geraldton.
- Sandstone: old gold mining town some 742 km north-east of Perth.
- Yalgoo: historic mining town approximately 220 km east of Geraldton
Key Gorges, Rivers & Lakes
- Gascoyne River is often referred to as the life of Carnarvon. Most of the township and surrounding areas receive their water supplies through bores below the river when dry. The water sits below the river bed itself which prevents it from evaporating.
- Chapman River begins in Yuna about 60kms east of Geraldton.
- Murchison River is the second largest river in Western Australia.
- Lake Nallan situated approximately 20kms north of Cue.
- Lake Austin is situated close to Cue.