Kalkadoons

KALKADOON PEOPLE

The Kalkadoons were nomadic people of groups/clans seldom no larger than 20 adults. Survival depended on conservation of water. They camped in one area and would stay until food resources became limited, normally only a few weeks; they would then move on. Travelling for 20-30 miles at a time, they would not return to an area for up to 2 years.

Kalkadoon men were tall, muscular, with magnificent physique and endurance. They towered over their European opponents. Men were nearly all bearded. They wore their hair long and wavey; in rope like coils with a band of red or the tail of a dingo attatched.

Kalkadoon were fierce, aggessive and independant people, and were great opponents to the whites.

FOODS

Kalkadoon land was rich in foods. Possum, bandicoots, birds, kangaroo, fish, ants, grubs, crayfish, frogs, reptiles, and caterpillars were plentiful. Combined with seeds, berries, vines, edible roots, capers and peas; they had a well balanced diet.

WEAPONS

Fighting poles, clubs, knives and tomahawks made of both stone and metal, fighting boomerangs, spears, woomeras and shields.

LAND

Kalkadoons occupied the area surrounding what is now know as Mt. Isa, in Queensland, Australia. The lands extended east to Cloncurry, west to the Georgina River, north to the O'Shanassy and Seymour Rivers, and south beyound the Selwyn Ranges and to Sulieman Creek.

The country was crisscrossed by many gullies, gorges and ravines, and little has changed to today. The environment was very rugged and mountainous. Water conservation was very important to the Kalkadoons' survival. This was to be one of the main causes of conflict between the white settlers and the Kalkadoons. It was a naturally defensive terrain for the Kalkadoons and it aided them in their 10 years of gureilla warfare (1874 - 1884) with white settlers and officials.

"Battle Mountain"

THE FINAL BATTLE

In 1884, on what is now know as Battle Mountain, there was an immense battle that almost wiped out the Kalkadoon people from history. Battle mountain is located approx. 80 km north of Mt. Isa. It is recorded that on the mountain were 1000 Kalkadoon men, women and children.

A paramilitary force was assembled by the white officials to break the back of the highly successful Kalkadoon war. The 600 Kalkadoon warriors certainly outnumbered the 200 troopers, but because of the superior weaponery of the white officials, the battle ended with a courageous but suicidal Kalkadoon charge down the mountain into 200 troopers on horseback with guns.