Never Never River – World Heritage environment
“I have meandered in these great forests in my spare time, following dried water courses and tops of ridges, and there was always something fresh to observe in nature’s great museum: freak trees, giant staghorns, the wonderful patches of Bangalow wild rice with their long strings of edible fruit, bush nuts and other native fruits.”
Alex Kethel, Bellingen Courier Sun, 26th May 1950
The Promised Land is renowned for its almost magical landscape, with the Never Never river weaving through a rich backdrop of native flora and fauna. The river area is nestled into the lower slopes of Dorrigo and Bindarri National Parks, and is a central focus for the Gleniffer community. Local landcare volunteers from the Never Never Catchment Group continually work to improve the zones along the river banks and the roadsides, as the health of the vegetation and waterways are vital to sustaining the rich biodiversity of plants and creatures in the valley.
Native plant species
The land you see around you was once covered in subtropical rainforest trees and wet eucalypt forests, with weeping lilly pillies, giant fig trees and water gums. The valley also contains important populations of the threatened aniseed myrtle rainforest tree. These species perform the important role of not only providing shade, but also stabilising the river banks to prevent erosion. The local Never Never Catchment group have spent many hours planting over 50 000 native trees and removing privet, lantana, camphor laurel and other weeds that run wild in the riparian zones along the river bank.
World Heritage environment
The Never Never catchment is a World Heritage area, renowned for its pristine waters and swimming holes. The river is integral to the lives of the local community. These waters create spaces for rest, recreation, birdwatching and contemplation, as well as providing a source of household drinking water to local residents. By caring for the landscape and treading lightly, these areas remain as healthy waterways and flourishing habitats for all species and creatures.
Angel Gabriel Capararo
Angel Gabriel Capararo was a well-known and respected resident of the Gleniffer Valley in the first half of the 20th century.
He was noted in the Brisbane Courier Mail newspaper in 1938 for “modernising” the Promised Land, as his property was one of the first to be supplied with electricity.
Plant species of the Gleniffer Valley: Gumbaynggirr language names
There are many native plants known to the Gumbaynggirr people – these are just a few.
Common name |
Gumbaynggirr name |
bangalow palm |
garraanyjiga |
black apple tree |
wiigulga |
black bean tree |
binyjaalga |
bloodwood, pink |
wuuban.ga |
bloodwood, red |
wuruuman.ga |
bracken fern |
gamiiny |
bulrush |
bunday |
cabbage palm |
Wawarrga, bawarr |
cunjevoi plant |
dawguway |
flame tree |
baagambin.ga |
hoop pine |
bindarrga |
lilly-pilly |
jijimam |
long yam |
daam |
moreton bay fig |
guwanggaga |
reed |
baranyjin |
rush |
bunduljin |
sandpaper fig |
gaagunyga |
silky oak |
wirrgilga |
smart weed |
bambil-bambil |
vine |
jugiil |
water gum |
wayngangga |
waterlily |
gundarang |
waterweed |
nulun |
wattle, sally |
yulun.ga |
wild grape vine |
giirrgurr |
wild raspberry |
bagulam |
Source: Morelli, Steve: Gumbaynggirr BijaarrJandaygam, Ngaawa Gugaarrigam, Gumbaynggirr Dictionary and Learner’s Grammar. Muurrbay Aboriginal Language & Cultural Co-operative, 2008, Nambucca Heads, NSW.
