Gimuy Cairns

Gimuy is a coastal city in Far North Queensland, Australia. The name comes from the Traditional Owners of the place, the Yidinji people.

In colonial history, the place was ‘discovered’ by the English in 1876 and named Cairns after Sir William Wellington Cairns, who was the Queensland Governor at the time. Today, it is the 5th biggest city in Queensland, and 14th in Australia.

Gimuy Country

Gimuy is the Yidinji name for Cairns City. An increasing number of outlets are now using Indigenous names in place of colonial titles. Thus Cairns is increasingly being referred to as ‘Gimuy’.

Having traditional Aboriginal names restored and recognised is important. Indeed it helps to keep Indigenous names and information alive.

Cairns city itself is within the traditional lands of the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people.

Gimuy Meaning

Gimuy Walubara Yidinji

The Gimuy Walabura Yidinji people are the Traditional Owners of Cairns from the Barron River in the north, to Edmonton further south. Wala is the Yidinji name for ‘side of the hill’ and bara means ‘people belonging to’.

Gimuy Pronunciation

Gimuy is pronounced gim-moy.

Gimuy Walubara Yidinji language

A small number of local Yidiɲ language speakers taught the linguist Robert M. W. Dixon that the Cairns and surrounding region’s original people (aka bama) can be identified as members of one or other local groups whom have been named after the territory to which they belong.

Local groups whom have been named by attaching the affix bara (trans. ‘belonging to’ to a noun for that terrain to which they are particularly associated via conception, life history and more.

The last fluent speakers of Yidiny were Tilly Fuller (d. October 1974), George Davis (b.1919), Dick Moses (b.1898) and his sister Ida Burnett of White Rock. A substantial part of the language was analysed and recorded by Dixon.

Yidinji Country

Yidinji tribal lands cover a large area from the Barron River in the north to the Russell River in the south, east to the Murray Prior Range and west to Tolga. The Yidinji people have a number of groups who are custodians of the tribe’s estate.

The Yidinji themselves, are comprised of a number of groups, including; Gimuy Walubara Yidinji, Dulabed Malanbarra Yidinji, Mandingalbay Yidinji and the Wadjanbarra Tableland Yidinji.

Yidinji Elders Aboriginal Corporation

Gimuy Walubara Yidinji Elders Aboriginal Corporation works to be a catalyst for positive change. Since its foundation in 2000, the corporation has been driven by the same ideas: support, empowerment, and progress. Learn more about their mission, vision, and how the elders go about making the changes they want to see.

Useful/Interesting Cairns Links

• Cairns Facts
• Cairns Creeks
• Cairns History
• Cairns Humidity
• Cairns Parks
• Cairns Politics
• Old Pictures of Cairns

Other Relevant Material

• Central Cairns
• Cairns West
• Mount Whitfield
• North Cairns
• South Cairns

Cairns