Aboriginal Pathways in Southeast Queensland and the Richmond River
by J.G. Steele
University of Queensland Press . 1982
The Brisbane Area.
This chapter considers the area in which the Turrbal language was spoken. Since the extent of this area has sometimes been disputed, let it be stated clearly that the
evidence of Tom Petrie is accepted here.
When challenged about the scope of the Turrbal area, Petrie replied, "The
Brisbane tribe - 'Turrubul' - extended as far south as the Logan River, and north to the Pine River; then the dialect spoken at Humpybong was different again." His daughter
amplified this: "The Turrbal language was spoken as far inland as Gold Creek or Moggill, as far north as North Pine, and south to the Logan, but my father could speak to and understand any black from Ipswich, as far north as Mount Perry, or from Fraser, Bribie, Stradbroke and Moreton Islands."!
The reference to Moggill is corroborated by the Rev. William Ridley, who in 1855 addressed thirty Aboriginals at Moggill in Turrubul and found that they understood the address.
The area will be described in terms of five identifiable
clans, although other clans no doubt inhabitated the area.
The clans to be described are
• the "Duke of York's" clan, occupying the Brisbane
metropolitan area on the north side of the river;
• the North Pine or Petrie clan;
• the Coorpooroo clan on the south bank of the Brisbane
River;
• the Chepara clan of Eight Mile Plains; and
• the Yerongpan clan of Oxley Creek
