About the Ballardong Aboriginal Corporation
Ballardong refers to the Noongar language or dialectal group north-east of Perth.
Towards the eastern boundary of the Ballardong region is the Njaki Njaki dialectal group. The Ballardong region includes the towns of Northam, York, Beverley, Goomalling, Cadoux, Koorda, Wyalkatchem, Goomalling and Cunderdin. The towns of Kellerberrin and Merredin are further east.
To the south-east are the towns Bruce Rock, Narembeen, Hyden, Kondinin, Kulin, Dumbleyung, Kukerin, Lake Grace and Varley. The approximate size of the Ballardong region is 63,000 sq km.
There are a number of significant sites in Ballardong boodja. These include caves, some of which are the homes of mythological beings, ceremonial sites, rock art, paintings and artefacts.
Katter Kich or Wave Rock, near Hyden in the south-east is significant to Noongar people because it is a Noongar keniny (dancing) ground and a little way from there would have been a camping place, there are gnamma holes – water holes and it was part also part of a Noongar trade route.
Trade was a very important part of Noongar lifestyle. It was essential for maintaining the economical, cultural and social aspects of Noongar culture. The rock is a granite cliff, 15 metres high and 110 metres long. Its wave-like shape has been caused by weathering and water erosion made over 60,000,000 years ago, which has undercut the base and left a rounded overhang. Water running down the rock during the wetter months dissolved the minerals, adding to the coloring of the wave. In 1960, some crystals from Katter Kich were dated as being 2,700 million years old, amongst the oldest in Australia.
