The Hornsby Shire and The Aboriginal People

The Hornsby Shire is geographically located along the north shore, running down to the coast of Brookyln surrounding up to the area of Epping, Sydney, covering 6000 hectares of public bushland. According to the 2012 Hornsby Council Statistics there is currently a population of 165090. Through the findings of historical culture, markings and landmarks the current society has understood the large existence of Aboriginals on the land. This local tribe of Aboriginals are the: Guringai people. “The Aboriginal heritage of the Hornsby Shire Region was at least 15000 to 20000 years old by the time European Settlers arrived in 1788.” (Hornsby Shire Council, n.d.). The Hornsby Council shows a high respect for this significant group, displayed through the ‘acknowledgment of country’ prior to meetings and public functions and the upkeep of the Guringai peoples traditional heritage and the ways in which there is a conjunction of care and dedication between the Aboriginals and the non-aboriginals.

Throughout time the local tribe built and developed a home for themselves and by 1975 crops were developed. The constant issue to survive from passing diseased became in issue.

Within the Hornsby Shire there are more than 900 landmarks and indicators of the occurrence of an Aboriginal settlement as a result from the local tribe, the Guringai people. A major place of significance is through the up keeping and findings within the ‘Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.’ “Sir Henry Copeland (Australian Politician) named this location after the Aboriginal tribe whilst chase is an English word meaning an enclose land where animals were kept for hunting” (Hornsby Shire Council, n.d.) Throughout the landmark Aboriginal paintings, carvings, engravings, middens...

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In August 2008 a ‘Statement of Reconcilliation’ was released by the Hornsby Shire and Council in conjunction with the local traditional custodians. The statement discusses the policies in which the community alleges to follow including; education to all those within the Hornsby district on the topic of Aboriginal history, to respect the survival of the indigenous and protect all indigenous sites. The reconciliation statement concludes with a an apology to the Guringai people and acknowledges the lost and trauma in which they all went through. This in conjunction with the national apology by Kevin Rudd in 2008, displays a major change within society. The country and local communities were educated in the statement “this was their land and water and that they remain its spiritual custodians.” (NSW Reconciliation Council, 2008).