SPEAKER (Australian, Male):
Good morning, thank you for attending this brief presentation about Australian
indigenous architecture. I’m David, and I’d like to give you a brief overview
of different types of indigenous dwelling that can be found around our country.
Now, this isn’t going to be comprehensive, but I’d like you all to leave here
with a better understanding of what types of structures indigenous people have
used over time. Yes, do you have a question?
WOMAN (Australian, Female): Are
these structures still being used?
SPEAKER: Well, no, not
anymore. In fact, most of them are gone now and we only have records of their
existence. I’m talking more about houses that were used in the 1800’s and
before. . .
WOMAN: I see. So this is
more about the history of indigenous architecture?
SPEAKER: Yes, exactly. The
first thing I’d like to talk about is construction . . . I mean, the types of
materials that were used. What people used to build with was different
depending on the region. Across the Western Desert, for example, limbs of trees
were used to build frames for houses and spinifex . . .
WOMAN: What is spinifex?
SPEAKER: That’s a good question.
It’s a type of grass and it was used to cover the frame of the house. Stone huts were made in cooler areas, like
southeastern Australia. My personal favourite are the houses made of whale
bones in South Australia, but cane was also used in some areas. Indigenous
people would often use mud mixed with grass to waterproof their houses as well,
packing the mixture to the exterior walls and roof.
WOMAN: Sorry to interrupt
again…
but I have another question. Were the houses all built the same way? I mean,
they must have looked different since they were using different materials,
right?
SPEAKER: That’s right. There
was actually a lot of variety in shape. As you can see on the screen behind me,
there were dome-shaped
frameworks, triangular structures, egg-shaped houses made of wood and, of
course, pole and platform construction, which includes a living space, elevated
high above the ground on several poles. These varying shapes of housing were
used in base camp communities, which were designed to be used over many years
by the same people.
Next I’d like to
talk a little bit about location of the structures. The rain forest townships in northeast
Queensland were located near a river or creek. The area where the houses were
built was cleared and maintained to allow sunlight to come through, but also to
decrease the amount of falling branches or dripping water from excessive rain
during the wet season.
In Tasmania, small
communities of dome-shaped structures were discovered near the mountains. These
shelters were located near food resources, such as figs and bodies of water
with good fishing. Some of these domes were
as wide as 3.6 meters and 2.4 meters high.
I’d also like to
quickly discuss the lava-stone structures located in Western Victoria because
they’re so unique. You may have already heard of them because they became part
of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape back in 2005. Heavy clay was used
to fill gaps in the structure and the roofs were made of tree boughs and bark.
Each one has a hole in the ceiling to let out smoke, and an animal hide was
used to stop rain from coming in. And, uh, they are the only remaining
houses that were constructed and used by an Indigenous community.
WOMAN: I’ve seen pictures
of those before. Some friends of mine have visited them and said they’re
fascinating. I also read that there used to be some stone houses near the Australian
Alps.
PRESENTER: Yes,
that’s true. We found housing in South Australia and, like you said, some stone
structures near the Australian Alps. Now, before I let you go, keep in mind
that these structures seem small to us, but many of them could house up to six
people. And, of course, they were organised close together because so many
activities. . . cooking, eating,
washing and playing, was all done as a community and in the outdoors, so people
were interacting constantly throughout the day.
Thanks
again. Are there any more questions or comments?