Five reasons to name new crossing Multuggerah Way
ON MAY 13, 2015 Uncle Darby McCarthy and I spent a day in Brisbane learning more about the story of Multuggerah and the Battle of One Tree Hill. It was as we wound our way back up the hill that the idea of “Multuggerah Way” was born. Here are five reasons why I think it is a good idea to name the new range crossing Multuggerah Way.
1. He was one of us. Most of the names we have given to local highways are given to blokes born somewhere else. Ludwig Leichardt (Leichardt Highway) was born in Prussia. The Gore brothers (Gore Highway) were born in Dublin, Ireland. Hamilton Hume (Hume Highway) was born near Parramatta. Multuggerah or “Young Moppy” was literally born just down the road (or down the valley if you prefer). He has bloodlines going back 10s of thousands of years and he was a son of this soil. Leichhardt, Hume and other explorers had Aboriginal people showing them the way. It would be fitting to name a major road after one of the men who showed them the way. (There is strong evidence to suggest that Multuggerah’s family showed Lieutenant Gorman how to cross the Dividing Range in November, 1840.)
2. He was a brave warrior. From all accounts Multuggerah was handsome and strong. He was a charismatic leader who led his people with great distinction. While the Battle of One Tree Hill occurred on September 13, 1843 near Meewah (Tabletop Mountain) Multuggerah’s resistance campaign lasted close to seven years. His efforts and bravery were recognised by local squatters such as Robert Ramsay Mackenzie. The measure of the man can be seen in the fact that this was the first time that a military fort was built (Helidon Fort) with a detachment of soldiers used (the 99th Infantry) to protect drays coming up the main range. Multuggerah was motivated by love of his country and his people.
3. He was a unifier. Multuggerah brought together a coalition of tribes from the Lockyer Valley, Brisbane Valley and Darling Downs. There is evidence he tried negotiating before moving to his resistance campaign. He brought people together. John ‘Tinker’ Campbell of Westbrook Station had a close friendship with him. Campbell described Multuggerah as a ‘blood brother’ and he was also known as ‘Black Campbell’. As a result of this friendship there were never any attacks on property or people associated with Tinker Campbell.
4. This is part of our shared story. Multuggerah and his feats do not belong solely to the region’s Aboriginal people. This is part of our foundational story. It is shared history. The Multuggerah Way proposal is not motivated by guilt or a desire to be politically correct. It is a way in which we can all gain a better appreciation of our shared past and it allows all of the historic actors to have a voice. This truth telling is not something we do for Aboriginal people, but something we do for all of us.
5. It’s time. This push to recognise Multuggerah is not new. In 1991 historian and founding Principal of Centenary Heights High School Bob Dansie published “Toolburra’. In the foreword Dansie made a strong case for recognising Multuggerah and his place in our history. The students from Middle Ridge Primary School took up this cause in 2005 and lobbied the then Toowoomba City Council to place plaques acknowledging Multuggerah and the Battle of One Tree Hill. These plaques are in picturesque but out of the way places.
It’s time the story of Multuggerah truly found the light of day. I have looked at more than 14,000 street and road names in our region and I am yet to find one named after a local Aboriginal person. This is a great opportunity to recognise a local hero. If you would like to know more about Multuggerah or support the Multuggerah Way campaign get in touch with me or go to multuggerah way. blogspot.com.au/