FIRST NATIONS ON THE ROAD: HIGHWAYS THROUGH COUNTRY

Australians spend a lot of time on the road, from transporting goods using trucks often called road-trains, to the iconic Aussie road trip. Road trips are the centre of numerous events in the Australian life, whether it’s the annual schoolies week pilgrimage for high school graduates hitting the beach, grey nomads with caravans in tow celebrating their retirement or a family jam-packed into the car to get to the grandparents for the festive season. Truck drivers also spend a whopping 60 to 70 hours a week on Australia’s highways and byways.

Uluru is located on Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara Country

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD

Spending time on these well-worn roads is no recent phenomenon either. Most Australian highways have a history dating back tens of thousands of years. Many contemporary freeways and highways have been modelled on trade routes and are connected to Songlines of Australia’s Aboriginal First Nations people. While travelling Australia’s highways, drivers can get to know the rich cultures of the Traditional Landowners of Australia by learning about Country. This blog introduces what the noun Country means in an Aboriginal context, along with the different First Nations Countries contemporary Australian highways travel through.

COUNTRY

The Aboriginal meaning of the word Country relates to more than just the idea of the nation you are living in and is different from the European understanding. It refers to not only the geography within a certain defined boundary, but also waterways, seas and oceans and ancestors. Each Country has complex spiritual beliefs, lore, law, stories, knowledge and culture, which has been in place for more than 60,000 years – making them some of the oldest jurisdictions in the world. While the regional centres, towns and landmarks that we know so well are our current waypoints, their advent is a recent introduction to a long-established tapestry of trade and travel which has continued on this continent well before the Great Pyramids were even a concept. You can check this map of Indigenous Australia on the AIATSIS website to learn the name and location of the Country you live on and move through.

The Hume Highway starts in Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country and ends in Kunringai Country

HUME HIGHWAY

Beginning in Naarm (Melbourne) and ending in New South Wales, the Hume highway is roughly 840 km long and almost nine hours of driving time. On this stretch of highway you will drive through many Countries. Beginning with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country, Tuangurrong Country, Waveroo Country, Wiradjuri Country (Gundagai), Ngunawal Country (Yass, Goulburn, Canberra), Gundungurra Country, Tharwal Country (Camden, Campbelltown), and finally Kunringai Country in Eora (Sydney).

The Pacific Highways starts in Gundungurra and Tharawal Country and finishes in Yugerra Country

PACIFIC HIGHWAY

The scenic Pacific Highway beginning in New South Wales spans roughly 780 km along Australia’s Southeast coast. Beginning in Gundungurra and Tharawal Country the highway passes Eora (Sydney), and continues up Dharug Country, Kuring-gai Country, Awabakal Country (Newcastle), Worimi Country (Port Stephens, Karuah), Biripi Country (Gloucester to Taree), Dhungutti Country (Kempsey, South West Rocks, Walcha), Gumbaingirri Country, Bundajalung Country (Grafton, Ipswich), until finally reaching Meajin (Brisbane) on Yuggera Country.

The Bruce Highway starts in Yugerra Country and finishes in Yidinjdji Country

BRUCE HIGHWAY

The Bruce Highway is one of the longest highways in Australia, a massive 1,679 km long starting in Meanjin (Brisbane) and ending in Gimuy (Cairns). Starting in Yuggera Country, it ascends through Waka Waka Country and Gubbi Gubbi Country (Caboolture, Childers ), Gureng Gureng Country, Bayali Country, Gangulu Country, Darumbul Country (Rockhampton), Baradha Country, Yuwi Country (Mackay), Biri Country, Giya Country, Yuru Country (Home Hill), Bindal Country, Gugu-Badun Country, Nyawaygi Country, Wargamaygan Country (Townsville, Palm Island), Djirbalbngan country, and finally entering Yidinjdji Country in Gimuy (Cairns).

Stuart Highway starts in Kaurna Country and finishes in Lararakia Country

STUART HIGHWAY

Australia’s capillary artery, the Stuart Highway runs from Adelaide in South Australia, through the centre of Australia all the way to the Darwin in Northern Territory. At over 3,000 km long, this ancient route is a journey and a half. Starting in Kaurna Country (Adelaide), the highway moves into Nakunu Country, Banggarla Country, Kuyani Country, Dhirari Country, Arabana Country, Wangkangurru Country, Arrente Country, Anmatyerre Country, Warlpiri Country, Warumunga Country, Walmanpar Country, Karanpurru Country, Wagiman Country, Kungarakany Country, finally arriving in Lararakia Country (Darwin).

The Eyre Highway starts in Malpa Country and finishes in Nukunu Country

EYRE HIGHWAY

Eyre Highway bridges Western Australia and South Australia and is 1,664 km in length. Starting in the town of Norseman in Malpa Country, the highway then travels into Ngatjumay Country, Mirning Country, Wirangu Country, Nawu Country, and Banggarla Country and finishing in Nukunu Country (Port Augusta).

The Midland Highway starts in Neunonne Country and finishes in Tyerrernotepanner Country

MIDLAND HIGHWAY

Tasmania’s Midland Highway is one of the smaller highways in Australia. Only 176 km in length, it links the state capital of Hobart and the city of Launceston. Starting in Hobart on Neunonne Country, the highway then passes through Paredarerme Country, Lairmairrener Country, arriving in Tyerrernotepanner Country (Launceston).

PACK YOUR BAGS

Australian borders have opened up but that doesn’t mean your next holiday has to be overseas. There are amazing road trip destinations Australia-wide and there has never been a better time for non-Indigenous Australians to learn more about Australia's First Nations people and cultures. When travelling Australia's highways, you can be a good guest on Country through basic steps like not littering, not removing local wildlife, rocks and plants, as well as learning whose Country you are on and a bit about the culture. Look out for further blogs exploring main highways throughout Australia with deeper dives into the First Nations Country's, the landscape, plants, animals and important attractions you will find on your journey. Ready for a road trip? Check out this blog on Australia’s top scenic routes.