The Light to Light Walk starts at a place called Boyd’s Tower – in Ben Boyd National Park, which occupies land both north and south of the small town of Eden on the Far South Coast of NSW. The Tower was constructed by the egotistical entrepreneur Benjamin Boyd and still bears his name on the side facing Twofold Bay on its towering facade That he was a man with an ego has never been in dispute.
The fact that one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline in Australia still bears the name of a wealthy immigrant from the UK has recently been the subject of discussion amongst locals in the area – both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal. And the valid question is being asked:
Why does this special place still bear the name of a Scottish born big shot who only lived in the country for about 7 years? Why not a more appropriate name representing those who occupied this place for thousands of years before Boyd?
Research suggests that the original occupants of this area were the Thawa people of the Yuin nation and that they had lived here for over 6,000 years before Benjamin Boyd arrived. It does seem a travesty to us that this remarkable National Park is still named after him, rather a more appropriate name representing the custodians of the land.
And surely this place deserves a more fitting name than ‘Ben Boyd National Park’? There are so many beautiful Aboriginal words that could describe it in a more fitting way than this.
It is believed that around 250 different Aboriginal languages were used throughout the country and we are trying to learn those place names that were originally given to places of interest along the Sapphire Coast. Some are listed below:
- Bittangabee = Pertangabee
- Green Cape = Bundooro
- Nadgee = Naa-chi
- Eden = Nullica
- Mt Imlay = Balawan
- Mt Dromedary = Gulaga
- Mumbulla Mountain = Biamanga
- Pambula = Panboola
- Bermagui = permageua
- Croajingalong (National Park, Victoria) = Krauatungalung
- Bemboka = Benbooka
We love to learn the ancient stories of this place and are always talking to Aboriginal people with historical and cultural links to the area. Come touring with us and learn more stories.
Click on this link for all the options available, or give us a call on 0429 961 047 and tell us how you’d like to explore the Light to Light Walk. There are so many ways!
I hope you are learning the stories from people who are traditional custodians and not Eden Land Council.
Steven Holmes is a direct bloodline descendant of Budginbro and Oswald Walter Breirly aboriginal whaler both are well documented in Oswald Walters Brierly journals.
Steven is setting up his own aboriginal corporation, once it is registered it will be known as Thaua Country Aboriginal
Corporation. It should be registered within a week or two.
One of the main aims of the Corporation is to speak on/for his cultural heritage being a direct bloodline descendant.
Land Council are not Traditional Owners they are a Government Appointed Body, they do not have the consent from any Traditional Owners to speak on their behalf.
We thank you for your story on your page re Boyds national park name. If you wish to contact me or Steven the number is 0488010613.
Hi Tricia, thanks for the comment. Keep us informed as to how things go with the push for a change of name. It certainly shouldn’t be named after the rogue Ben Boyd! Cheers,Jenny
We are in the process of getting Steven’s corporation registered, once that is done we will be setting up a online petition