Gurre Kamilaroi, or, Kamilaroi Sayings (1856)

This collection offers a rare glimpse into the Kamilaroi language of southeastern Australia, as recorded in the mid‑19th century by a missionary deeply involved with the community. The pages present a series of native words, phrases, and traditional sayings, each accompanied by careful transliteration and English explanations, revealing how everyday life, spirituality, and the natural world were expressed. Beautiful wood‑cut engravings add visual texture, making the volume feel like both a linguistic guide and an artifact of cultural exchange.

Listeners will hear the rhythm of the language—its distinctive consonants, vowel clusters, and the way names of animals, places, and rituals flow together—while gaining insight into the worldview of the Kamilaroi people. The work captures the early attempts to preserve an oral tradition on paper, highlighting both the richness of the language and the challenges of translation. As a historical document, it invites reflection on the intersections of faith, colonisation, and the resilience of Indigenous knowledge.