Aboriginal Warringah

This page is intended as a resource for both Aboriginal people and members of the broader community who wish to learn more about our Indigenous nation and its rich culture. It includes:

• Warringah Reconciliation Action Plan
• Warringah origin
• Warringah Council's flannel flower Reconciliation artwork
• Warringah Council's Statement of Commitment
• Aboriginal Heritage Officer
• Guringai Festival
• Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan 2007-2011
• Links to Aboriginal Services

Warringah Reconciliation Action Plan

Warringah Council's first Reconciliation Strategy was adopted in 1998. To mark its tenth anniversary and the Apology to The Stolen Generations by the Prime Minister in February 2008 a new Reconciliation Action Plan has been written. The new Plan is in keeping with Reconciliation Australia’s framework and has achieved their official endorsement.

Warringah’s Reconciliation Action Plan was prepared in consultation with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander community members, Reconciliation Australia and Indigenous agencies and was adopted by Council on 9 September, 2008. The Plan recommends a range of actions to further reconciliation in the local area and to enhance Council’s services, ceremonial practices and employment practices to enable greater participation of local Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in the life of Warringah and its council. Click here to download the Warringah Reconciliation Action Plan (PDF, 1.5MB).

Warringah origin

Warringah is situated on the lands of the Guringai people. Council acknowledges the Guringai as the original owners of this coastal area, bordered to the south by Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), to the north by Broken Bay and to the west by the Lane Cove River.

The name Warringah is Aboriginal in origin. Its meaning is variously defined as:

• The south side of Middle Harbour
• Middle Harbour
• Grey head
• Signs of rain

According to the 2006 Census there are 457 people living in Warringah who identify as being Indigenous (up from 420 in 2001). This represents 0.3 per cent of the total population.

Warringah's Flannel Flower Reconciliation Artwork

This Reconciliation artwork was designed by Leanne Tobin, a direct descendent of Yarramundi - a Boorooberongal tribal elder of the Darug nation.

The flannel flower represents Warringah. The white dots emanating from the centre are the ‘Seeds of Reconciliation’ being dispersed through the community by people who are joined in commitment to Reconciliation.

The yellow symbolises the land and beaches of Warringah - part of the lands originally belonging to the Guringai people. The blue symbolises Warringah's waters - the sea, lakes and estuaries.

Artwork used with permission.

Statement of Commitment

Warringah Council acknowledges that Indigenous Australians were the first people of this land. We celebrate the survival of Indigenous Australians and their culture following the devestating impact of European colonisation. We support the right of Indigenous Australians to determine their own future.

The arrival of Europeans brought massive change to the Guringai people who were the original inhabitants of our local area and we mourn their suffering and loss.

Today, Warringah is populated by people drawn from Indigenous and many other cultures. Warringah Council is committed to the values of tolerance and respect. This Council is also committed to the process of Reconciliation both locally and nationally.

We accept our responsibility to develop an awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal history and culture which, we believe, strengthens and enriches our lives. Warringah Council is also committed to respecting, protecting and managing Aboriginal sacred sites and special places.

We encourage Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to work together to celebrate their different cultures and to go forward together.

Aboriginal Heritage Office

The Aboriginal Heritage Office (AHO) was established in 2000 in a progressive move to protect and preserve Aboriginal heritage in the northern Sydney region through day to day site protection work as well as longer term education, training and management advice.  

The Sydney Basin is one of the richest provinces in Australia in terms of Aboriginal archaeological sites. There are thousands of Aboriginal sites, more than half of which contain rock art, and in Sydney's sandstone belt at least 1500 rock shelters have been discovered to contain cultural deposit. In Warringah alone, there are 376 recorded sites which are being monitored and maintained on an ongoing basis.

The AHO is a joint initiative by Warringah, Lane Cove, North Sydney, Manly, Willoughby, Ku-ring-gai, Pittwater and City of Ryde councils and has the support of the NSW Heritage Office and Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. The office works in partnership with key stakeholders such as the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council in assisting councils and the community at large in ensuring that Aboriginal heritage is not unduly impacted.

Free Aboriginal heritage presentations are available to local schools as well as walks and talks for the general community. There is also an opportunity to become part of a vibrant team of volunteers who assist in looking after Aboriginal sites in the area. Volunteer training is provided by the AHO free of charge.

The office is equipped with an education centre and keeping place located at 39/137-145 Sailors Bay Rd, Northbridge. For more information visit the AHO website: www.aboriginalheritage.org

Guringai Festival

The 2010 Guringai Festival theme Living Languages recognises the nationwide work of retrieving and reviving dormant Aboriginal languages. The launch of the 10th Guringai Festival takes place on Saturday 22 May a t Glen Street Theatre.

 - Activities will get underway at 11am with a free panel discussion about ‘The Future of Indigenous Performing Arts’ chaired by Susan Moylan-Coombs.

 - At 2pm, Bangarra Dance Theatre composer David Page will star in a special $25 Guringai Festival matinee performance of Page 8 - bookings are essential through Glen Street Theatre’s ticket office 9975 1455, please quote: Guringai Special.

 - At 3.45pm, a traditional smoking ceremony by Aboriginal elder Uncle Max will take place in the Glen Street Theatre foyer to cleanse the land for the official launch of the Guringai Festival and will include live music from the Freshwater Girls.

The Guringai Festival runs from 22 May to 13 July and aims to raise awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the Northern Sydney region.

• More information on on the Guringai Festival's workshops, exhibitions, talks, performances and films (PDF, 2.7MB)

Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan 2007-2011

Aboriginal organisations and ten councils from the Northern Sydney region, including Warringah, have assisted in developing the Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan (2007-2011). The plan outlines a regional approach to guide Aboriginal organisations and local, state and federal government agencies in addressing the social needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

To coordinate the plan’s implementation, we, together with Manly, Pittwater, Mosman, North Sydney, Lane Cove, Hunters hill, Willoughby, Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai councils, contribute to the employment of an Aboriginal Project Officer.

The Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan for 2007-2011 can be viewed as a complete document or in sections:

• Section 1: Acknowledgements, The Fish Story, Acronyms, Contents (PDF, 513KB)
• Section 2: Forward, Executive Summary, Introduction (PDF, 573KB)
• Section 3: History of the Plan, Theses from Aboriginal Social Plan 2000-04, Methodology for Updating the Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan (PDF, 689KB)
• Section 4: Background to the Community, Relationship to other Policies and Agencies, Themes and Recommendations (PDF, 1.8MB)
• Section 5: Appendix A, B, C, D, E, Bibliography (PDF, 2.1MB)
• Complete document (PDF, 7.25MB)

For further information on Aboriginal services click on links below:

• Aboriginal Heritage Office
• Aboriginal Services Directory for the Northern Sydney Region