Wp/nys/Walyalup (Fremantle)

Walyalup and beeliar djaa, other Whadjuk boodjar in background, and winding shape of the beeliar from the Waugal's creation of the waterway. (Aerial view from above wardan.)

Walyalup is a significant area in Whadjuk Noongar boodjar (country). It is an important place where people have lived and visited since kura, yeye and boorda (past, present and future).

Part of Walyalup is along the yirel (west) coast and includes parts of the wardan (ocean). It includes boodjar around the beeliar (river) djaa (mouth) and the beeliar some distance djiraly-boyal (north-east), and several (kata) hills.

The name Fremantle was given to Walyalup by Wadjela (white people) after they settled here recently, in 1829. Today, the name Fremantle, or Freo for short, is used most of the time instead of Walyalup, especially by people who are not Noongar. Wadjela also altered the natural structure of the beeliar djaa to create a harbour for ships and boats. The beeliar estuary in Walyalup operates as Fremantle Port.

Walyalup is said by Noongar to be 'the crying place' as funeral rites for local people were conducted here. The sand dunes provided a burial place for them. The word Walyalup may have its root in the word 'Walinj', which means 'to cry' or 'crying'.

City of Fremantle considers the name Walyalup to come from the word ‘walyo’, which is Noongar for ‘woylie’, the little kangaroo rat. Walyo were once abundant amongst the scrub and low trees at Walyalup.

A short video titled 'Spirit of Fremantle' with Whadjuk/Balardon Noongar Len Collard yarning - click here to view - gives an informative overview about Walyalup.

Walyalup holds much important spiritual, social, historic and aesthetic significance for kura, yeye and boorda (past, present and future). There is much waangkiny (speaking) possible about this special boodjar which has been able to sustain people for more than 50,000 years.

This article offers an introduction to some significant aspects of Walyalup. More kaartdijin (knowing) can be written into it over time.

Garrungup Cave

Significant Places

There are several significant places in Walyalup boodjar. Some of these places are discussed here, and the following Nyittiny Yarns show their spiritual significance. The spiritual, social and physical factors weave together to make the koort (heart) kaartdijin which Noongar have. It is a deep connection to boodjar which they have.

Garrungup/Garungup (Waugul Cave at Rocky Bay)

A cave called Garrungup, or Garungup, is located in the Waugal Mia (Waugal shelter/home), a large limestone cliff on the djiraly foreshore of the beeliar, in North Fremantle. Garrungup means ‘place of anger’ or 'place to be avoided'. This is the final resting place of the Waugal (the Rainbow Serpent), a very significant site in the Perth region. The Waugal, the snake-like creature responsible for the creation of many waterways and landforms in Noongar boodjar, is central to belief, law and custom. An Elder in the Whadjuk Advisory Group, Mrs Teresa Walley, waangkiny that "the Waugul Cave is near John Street. My uncle told me not to go there."

Manjaree

Manjaree (Bathers Beach)

This Wardanup (foreshore) boodjar holds much importance for Noongar. The name Manjaree refers to a place which was a 'fair or where trade occurred.' Important ceremonial and cultural business was conducted at this Wardanup (foreshore). It was also a place of hunting and fishing particularly in Kambarang (late Spring, October to November). Funeral rites and burials also took place in the sand dunes. Singing and mourning would be conducted for the deceased so they could prepare for the next part of their spiritual journey.

A limestone and sand bar lay across the beeliar djaa, making an important bidi (trail) for Noongar to come from djiraly beeliar to Manjaree.The rocky bar was blown up by explosives in the 1890s by Wadjela engineer C Y O’Connor, as Fremantle Harbour was being built. This distressed the Noongar, as it was a Nyitting Yarn site, a bidi connecting moort (family) was destroyed, and it made the beeliar kep (fresh water) turn salty.

Dwerda Weeardinup, view from djirely

Dwerda Weeardinup (Cantonment Hill)

Dwerda (dingo) Weeardinup means ‘place of the Dingo Spirit’. This kata overlooking the beeliar djaa and Walyalup boodjar was a significant campsite. In local boodjar, local Noongar could ngaarn and burang nidja. This kata was a signal site. Whadjuk/Ballardong Noongar Mrs Dorothy Winmar waangkiny that people would light a karla (fire) on kata to let others know where they were. The karla signalled to Noongar people imprisoned by Wadjela on Wadjemup (Rottnest Island) where to return. Evidence from Noongar Elders waangkiny suggests that Dwerda Weeardinup was the place where Noongar first saw Wadjela arriving at Walyalup in their boats.

Nyittiny Yarns of Significant Places

Dingo Flour Sign Fremantle - where Dwerda Spirit guards the Walyalup coast and beeliar djaa

There are several Nyittiny Yarns associated with Walyalup. Two are shared as follows, connecting to significant sites discussed above.

Waugul and Yondock (Crocodile)

Yondock an ancestral crocodile travels from djiraly and causes floods and disturbances. This makes Wadjemup (Rottnest Island), Ngooloormayaup (Carnac Island), Derbal Nara (Cockburn Sound) and floods the beeliar djaa with salt water. The Waugal smells the salt and travels down beeliar to investigate. The Waugal has advice from Woorriji (a lizard) in a cave in Djiraly Walyalup and strength from a kep spring at the East Street Jetty place. Then the Waugal fights Yondock, bites off his tail, and puts the tail across the beeliar djaa to stop salt water going upstream. Waugul armpit hair secures the tail on the kongal beeliar foreshore near Manjaree, and Yondock toenails secure it to the djiraly side. Meeandip (Garden Island) is the remainder of the crocodile’s body. The tail made a rock bar crossing across the beeliar djaa. The Dwerda spirit watches the coast from the Dingo Flour Mill place, to ensure the spirit of the crocodile does not reunite with its tail. After this battle the Waugal crawled into the caves at Garrungup.

Yoggalurrung Image by Hubble Telescope

Seven Sisters

When the Waugal had done battle with Yondock, he created the seven kata in Walyalup. He tunnelled under the ground and made the kata with his back. After that he settled into Garrungup. These kata are of Walyalup’s Seven Sisters Dreaming story, about the creation of Yoggalurrung (Pleiades Constellation). It is a Whaduk Noongar waangkiny seven sisters with djert names looking for their maaman who didn’t come home. The Seven Sisters story can vary from boodjar to boodjar, but is always significant as a creation story. Dwerda Weeardinup is a significant site due to this dreaming story. It is on a songline which Noongar and people from other boodjar can follow. This songline is between the Central Desert and the yirel coast. Dwerda Weeardinup has a wide-ranging connection to many places through this story. Locally it connects to North Fremantle, Wadjemup, Garrungup, Warden (Indian Ocean), Beeliar (Swan River) and Geenunginy Bo (Kings Parks). It connects to boodjar further away including other Noongar boodjar, Central Desert, Western Desert, and South Australia.