Cummeragunja Reserve

rdf:langString Cummeragunja Reserve

rdf:langString Cummeragunja Reserve or Cummeragunja Station, alternatively spelt Coomeroogunja, Coomeragunja, Cumeroogunga and Cummerguja, was a settlement on the New South Wales side of the Murray River, on the Victorian border near Barmah. It was also referred to as Cumeroogunga Mission, although it was not run by missionaries. The people were mostly Yorta Yorta. It was established between 1882 and 1888 when dissatisfied residents of Maloga Mission moved 5 miles (8.0 km) upriver to escape the authoritarian discipline there under its founder, Daniel Matthews. The mission buildings were re-built on the new site, and the teacher, Thomas Shadrach James, moved too, but Matthews, stayed on at Maloga. The new station became a thriving community by the turn of the century, but over time its status changed as the New South Wales Government assumed varying degrees of control. Records list it as a group of four Aboriginal reserves spanning the years 1883 to 1964, but its status changed over this period, with differing levels of control by the government. It is known for being the site of a protest known as the Cummeragunja walk-off in 1939, with residents leaving the reserve to cross the river in protest at poor conditions and treatment. In March 1984 the newly-created Yorta Yorta Land Council took possession of the land. Many Aboriginal families still live on Cummeragunja.