The Aboriginal history of City of Ryde

Published on 22 June 2023

NAIDOC Week (2 July to 9 July 2023) is soon approaching and it is a great time to get to know more about the fascinating Aboriginal history of our City.

When Europeans arrived at Sydney Cove in January 1788, the Wallumedegal or Wallumattagal were the traditional owners of the area we now call Ryde and had lived here for thousands of years.

If you live or spend time around our City, you are likely to be familiar with some Aboriginal words, whether you know it or not!

Dozens of local street names are based on Aboriginal words. But do you know what they mean?

Carramar Avenue (‘shade of trees’), Koorong Street (‘canoe’), Orana Street (‘welcome’) and Warrawong Street (‘side of hill’) are just a few. Find out more about the origins of Ryde street names.

You may have visited the beautiful Bennelong Park. But do you know much about the man in whose honour it was named?

Visit our Finding Bennelong pages to read information and watch a series of short videos about Eora Elder, Woollarawarre Bennelong, and his significant role in our local and national history.

NAIDOC Week, held across Australia each July, is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories, and join in recognising and celebrating the culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The theme of NAIDOC Week 2023 (2 July to 9 July 2023) is For Our Elders. This pays tribute to the vast contributions knowledge and experiences that Elders bring to their communities and families.  

To keep up to date on NAIDOC week, visit the events listing.

Read more about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and history of City of Ryde.