The evolution of Gurre Kamilaroi

Reverend William Ridley Papers- Kamilaroi Grammar and Vocabulary
Manuscript
MSQ165

Scripture Lesson in Aboriginal Language
Manuscript
Aa 52/3

Gurre Kamilaroi
ca. 1850
Reference book
Presented by Carl Hoffman to the Australian Museum, Sydney

Kamilaroi and other Australian Languages
Reference book
Q87/30

As an enthusiastic linguist, Reverend William Ridley (1819-1878) travelled to exotic places throughout the world, and was interested in capturing Indigenous language to communicate his Christian beliefs to Indigenous populations. The Presbyterian Church granted Ridley his ministership upon his arrival in Sydney in 1850, and the following year he began his religious and cultural mission.

The two manuscripts and two books contained in this case document the evolution of the publication of Ridley’s Gurre Kamilaroi recorded in the Aboriginal language. Ridley compiled his research based upon the Kamilaroi people he met on his journey down the Barwon River through the Kamilaroi country- a vast area that extends from present day south west Queensland to north and north west New South Wales, and into the Hunter Valley.

The first manuscript contains vocabulary and grammar of the Kamilaroi language, which Ridely used to create the second manuscript- a scripture lesson written in the Aboriginal language. He intended to use this document to teach Christianity to the Kamilaroi people.

Ridely used both of these manuscripts for the reference book Gurre Kamilaroi published in 1856. The book translated English words into Aboriginal, and was used by English teachers and clergyman to teach the Aboriginal people the Western way of life. The second book Kamilaroi and other Australian Languages took the concept a step further, and included English translations into a number of Aboriginal languages.