Bundjalung

Bundjalung refers to a group of Indigenous Australian peoples and their languages located along the northern coast of New South Wales, Australia. Traditional Bundjalung country stretches along the coast from the Richmond River in the south to the Tweed River in the north, with inland extensions into the surrounding ranges.

Within Bundjalung are several distinct communities and language varieties, including groups such as the Arakwal of the Byron Bay area and the Widjabul (often spelled Wiyabal) of the Lismore-Casino region. The term also covers related dialects that formed part of the broader Bundjalung language continuum.

Linguistically, Bundjalung refers to a cluster of languages or dialects within the Pama–Nyungan family. Historically there were multiple dialects, including Western Bundjalung, Central Bundjalung, and Eastern Bundjalung. Most Bundjalung varieties are now endangered, though revival programs and community language classes are underway.

Culturally, Bundjalung communities maintain a strong connection to land and sea, with traditional practices in storytelling, songlines, art, and bush tucker knowledge. Social organization often centers on kinship and totems, with place-based rights and sacred sites playing a central role in cultural life.

The colonial period brought dispossession and disruption, but Bundjalung people continue to assert rights, preserve language, and maintain cultural institutions through community organizations and native title processes. Today Bundjalung communities are active across northeastern New South Wales, contributing to regional heritage and contemporary Australia.