Cultural heritage

Because of its prominence, the mountain is of significance to the Wiradjuri people, past and present, and out of respect to traditional owners should be conserved appropriately.

The scenic grandeur of Mt Canobolas must have impressed the indigenous people as its Wiradjuri name clearly relates to the mountain’s visual profile. Canobolas comes from ‘coona’ meaning shoulder and ‘booloo’ meaning two, which the Wiradjuri pronounced Gaanha-bula, no doubt referring to the two prominent peaks now known as Old Man Canobolas and Young Man Canobolas.

As a major Wiradjuri place, Mt Canobolas was an important occupation site used for the sourcing and sharing of food, medicines and tools, and for corroborees and ceremonies particularly relating to men’s business. To the Wiradjuri people Gaanha-bula is a place of spiritual connection through worship of Baiame (the Creator God and Sky Father) and through the dreaming story of Gaanha-bula as one of three feuding brothers. Such dreaming stories are known by some people with a strong traditional connection to Orange, but they are not in the public domain. Wiradjuri elder, Uncle Neil Ingram relates the Three Brothers aboriginal dreaming story of Gaanha-bula, as follows:

This story was passed on to me by my Elders.
A long time ago there were three brothers. The elder brother was Gaanha-bula, the middle brother was Wahluu and the younger brother was Guhanal wanyi, near Carcoar.
Gaanha-bula is the traditional name for Mt Canobolas. Gaanha meaning shoulder and bula meaning two. Two shoulders.
Wahluu is the traditional name for Mt Panorama. It means young men’s initiation site.
Guhanal wanyi is the traditional name for Mt Macquarie. It means My Brother’s Keeper.
And the story goes like this:
Gaanha-bula and his brother Wahluu both fell in love with a beautiful young woman, (migay) because she showed more interest in Wahluu, Gaanha-bula became jealous of his brother and challenged him to a spear throwing competition. The winner takes the prize and gets to marry the young woman.
They lined up a target, Gaanha-bula threw the first spear but missed the target. Wahluu then threw his spear but also missed the target, even though he was closer to the target.
On the second throw they both missed the target again.
When they had the third throw, Gaanha-bula got awfully close to the target but Wahluu threw his spear and hit the target.
Before Wahluu could turn around to claim his prize, Gaanha-bula hit him in the back of the head with a club (bundi) and killed him. Wahluu fell to the ground. This made the spirit ancestors angry; they made the ground erupt and lava spill out over Wahluu’s body where he laid on the ground. This is the shape of the mountain as it stands today.
Gaanha-bula, full of fear, then fled the scene and travelled back to his home at Mt Canobolas. The spirit ancestors were angry with him, for killing his brother.
They struct him down and made the ground erupt and lava poured out over his body where he laid, which is a constant reminder of what happened.
Guhanal wanyi, full of grief and fear, also fled from the scene and travelled back to Mt Macquarie where he was overcome by his guilt and grief and died.
He blamed himself for not stopping his brothers from fighting. The young woman – (migay) went back to her own clan group.
They all broke the lore – Yindyamarra and were punished for their wrongdoing.
The moral behind this story is to take care of each other – not to hold a grudge, and have jealousy, rage, and anger in your heart. Never commit murder against another person.
Mt Canobolas is a men’s initiation site and a place used for corroboree and ceremonies. (burbung). The Wiradjuri people occupied this land and camped on the mountain during these major ceremonies.
To the Wiradjuri people Mt Canobolas is a place of spiritual connection through worship of Baiame (the Creator God and Sky Father).
Scatters of stone tools and engravings can be found near the peak, along with remnants of cultural activities that took place.
During the cold winter months, possum furs were made into cloaks and blankets for warmth.
Traditional fire burns were used to manage the vegetation on the mountain and surrounding area to encourage important traditional food and medicine growth.
Such dreaming stories are known by some Wiradjuri people with a strong traditional connection to the Orange and Bathurst area. The public are not aware of these stories.
Mt Canobolas is still a spiritual and significant place today for the Wiradjuri people. We need to preserve, protect, and respect this special place.

Mt Canobolas – Local Geology and Flora by Orange Regional Museum

Federal Falls Picnic Area and The Walls lookout

This area holds information about cultural activities that took place on the Mountain
Artefact scatters around the picnic area shows evidence of Aboriginal use.