Aboriginal culture

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The traditional custodians of the Coffs Harbour region are the Gumbaynggirr people, who have occupied this land for thousands of years, forming one of the largest coastal Aboriginal Nations in New South Wales. The Gumbaynggirr Nation stretches from the Nambucca Valley in the south to around the Clarence River in the north and to the Great Dividing Range in the west.

The history of Gumbaynggirr Country is long and fascinating. It is expressed in the continuing culture and language of the Gumbaynggirr people.

There were approximately 3,639 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people recorded in the 2016 census in the Coffs Harbour region.

In August 2019 Council adopted Yandaarra Shifting Camp Together - A Guide for Aboriginal Cultural Awareness and Engagement(PDF, 3MB) which has been developed to assist Councillors, staff and volunteers to provide a consistent and respectful approach to engaging with the Aboriginal community.

Contact our Aboriginal Community Planning and Engagement Specialist on 02) 6648 4850 or via richard.widders@chcc.nsw.gov.au

Gumbaynggirr culture on the Coffs Coast

Watch this short video on Gumbaynggirr culture produced by Coffs Coast, City of Coffs Harbour's tourism website.

You can find out more about the Aboriginal history of our region on the Coffs Harbour Libraries website and at the sites listed below.