On Tuesday, 27 February and again on Monday, 19 August, our Year 7 History students had the privilege of visiting Western Wakka Wakka cultural heritage site, Gummingurru, as part of their study of the Deep Time History of Australia.

Gummingurru is unique in being the best-preserved initiation site in southeast Queensland, including bora rings and various stone arrangements that have ancient links to the totems and kinship practices of the Jarowair and Giabal people of Toowoomba and the Darling Downs, as well as the broader region within the highly significant cultural landscape of the Bunya Mountains.


The boys were welcomed to, and guided through, the site and its learning centre by Mr Shannon Bauwens, a Western Wakka Wakka man, traditional custodian of Gummingurru, and board member of the Bunya Peoples Aboriginal Corporation. The boys partook in a smoking ceremony to cleanse themselves on arrival before gaining insight to Shannon’s encyclopaedic knowledge of the site’s history and cultural practices of the Indigenous peoples of the region. The boys who visited last Monday are now busy consolidating their knowledge in an assessment piece based on their visit. I have asked some of the Year 7s to share their learnings about the historical significance, changes and continuities associated with Gummingurru.

“Deep Time History of Australia is a new unit that will be mandatory for all schools in Australia to implement by 2026. TGS's Humanities Department has implemented the unit ahead of time with a local focus for both content and associated assessment.”
— Mr Douglas Michael, Teacher of History and Philosophy & Reasoning

Our aim in localising the content is to have a more meaningful impact on students and how the entire unit is delivered and with significant sites like Gummingurra so close to our School it only serves to enrich the learning experience.

How ancient is the site at Gummingurru and how long was it used? The Gummingurru site is predicted to be around 4000 to 6000 years old and was a site for many purposes. The site was used for a long time before initiation was stopped in the 1890s. This site is still visited by the public but only to have a look around and to learn about the site’s history and cultural background. 

Who went to Gummingurru and how far did they travel? Many tribes travelled to Gummingurru for initiation ceremonies and other ceremonies. The tribes travelled from as far west as Cunnamulla and Charleville, the Clarence River in Northern NSW, and Bundaberg/Dawson River to the North. This is about a six-hour drive in a car and would be months on foot. They travelled along songlines linking the places together. After initiation they travelled to the Bunya Mountains for the Bunya Festival, Bunya nut feasts and associated ceremonies.

Mitch McMahon, Year 7

What was Gummingurru used for? The Western Wakka Wakka cultural heritage site known as Gummingurru was used as an initiation site of young men. Initiation was where the kippas (young men) would be put through the law regarding their assigned yuree (totem) in initiation ceremonies. Kippas who participated in these were chosen by the elders based on whether the kippas were mature enough. This would mean kippas would have the chance of becoming a man, which meant being granted status, rights to participate in ceremony and ritual and education.

Lewis Coleborn, Year 7

What was the first order of business for the men of Gummingurru? The men of Gummingurru would be initiated by the elders which allowed them to enjoy increased status and the right to be educated about their role and responsibility to protect their yuree ‘totem’, which might have been an animal like the emu or carpet snake. The men who went through ceremony at Gummingurru placed rocks in the shapes of their totems to honour them. The men of Gummingurru and their families would then travel the massive ceremonies in the Bunya Mountains. The Bunya ceremonies were hosted to trade Bunya nuts, dance, hold ceremony, arrange marriages and settle arguments. After being assigned their totem, it then became their job to protect the animal and its habitat or country, e.g. Emu Country.

Fred Nielsen, Year 7

What happens at Gummingurru now and how are traditional practices being revived? On our trip to Gummingurru and Cobb & Co we learned that the site is used for teaching our generation the significance of First Nations heritage and history. The ancient custodians of the land such as Wakka Wakka, Gaibal and Jarowair people used cultural burning to keep the Gumminguru site safe and less likely to experience severe bushfire. Modern custodians, such as the Bunya Peoples Aboriginal Corporation manage country the same way today. This form of burning is being revived to care for yurees, such as a turtle, emu and dingo and their connected country in an ongoing way for the current and future generations.

Flynn Venter, Year 7

Do you think there are similarities between Gummingurru and TGS as ‘man-making’ sites? During our tour of Gummingurru, traditional custodian, Shannon Bauwens, explained to us how Gummingurru was a learning place for young indigenous men, or a ‘man-making' site where young men were ‘made’ or transitioned into adult men through ceremony. A place where boys arrived but left as men. At Gummingurru young men were taught about socialisation and the values of their people to prepare them for adult life. I do think Gummingurru is similar to TGS, as these are the things we learn here in addition to obtaining an education. Many of us arrive at TGS as boys but will also leave as men.

Lawson Plumbe, Year 7

Latest Blog

Teaching Excellence
/
Thursday, 31 July 2025

Better Together - 2025 IBSC Conference

With its global network of over 300 member schools spanning more than 20 countries, the IBSC advocates for educational opportunities that focus on the holistic development of young men. This year, the IBSC Annual Conference was hosted by Belmont Hill School in Boston, United States, where teachers, school leaders and experts in boys' education gathered under the inspiring theme of "Better Together". Toowoomba Grammar School was proudly represented by Mr Luke Rawle, Ms Abby Varley and Mr Henry…

Read More
Old Boys
/
Thursday, 24 July 2025

Reliving the Past, Shaping the Future

Mr Nicholas Hess has been a coach for both rugby and tennis and a boarding supervisor after he finished Year 12 His connection to the School runs deep, from the friendships he formed as a student to his dedication now as a Boarding House Assistant and long-standing member of the Old Boys’ Association (OBA). TGS has had a lasting impact on his life, and he has been only too willing to give back to the place that he loves so much. “There’s something special about being part of the Blue and Gold,”…

Read More
Stewardship
/
Thursday, 19 June 2025

Never Give Up

Six years ago, after experiencing ongoing muscle weakness, he was given a life-changing diagnosis - Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy 2i (LGMD2i). Basically, Matt’s body doesn’t produce the chemical substance, Ribitol which is crucial for muscle function. He was told there is no treatment or cure, that he would be wheelchair bound in five to ten years and require oxygen, with the likelihood of an early death. But Matt would not accept that fate. Instead, he took up the fight – not just for…

Read More
Blog Wednesday, 11 June 2025

A Magical Collaboration - “Midnight: The Cinderella Musical”

A co-production between Toowoomba Grammar School and Fairholme College, this enchanting musical captivated audiences at the Empire Theatre for two nights in early June, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended. A Story Brought to Life “Midnight” is a fresh take on the Cinderella story, featuring music and lyrics by John Foreman and Anthony Costanzo, with orchestrations by Anthony Barnhill and additional contributions from Kate Miller-Heidke. The book, written by Dean Murphy and Pip…

Read More
Sports & Activities
/
Thursday, 05 June 2025

Pioneering Excellence: Launching TGS's Athletic Development Program

Our Athletic Development Program represents a paradigm shift in how schools nurture sporting talent—combining cutting-edge technology, evidence-based practices and a whole-person philosophy that prepares young men for success beyond the scoreboard.

Read More
Character & Wellbeing
/
Thursday, 29 May 2025

Reflecting on the Past, Walking Forward Together

This week is an important time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to reflect on how we can each contribute to achieving reconciliation. The theme for NRW 2025, 'Bridging Now to Next,' calls on us to honour the past, acknowledge the present and actively build a better future. It reminds us that reconciliation is not a destination, it is a journey guided by reflection, respect and a shared commitment to walking together. As we look back on the…

Read More
Blog Thursday, 22 May 2025

A Bright Start to our Rising and Leading Series

More than 150 members of the Toowoomba and Darling Downs community joined us to hear from leading demographer and data commentator Simon Kuestenmacher, whose presentation sparked fresh thinking about the decade ahead.

Read More
Grammar 150
/
Thursday, 15 May 2025

Women of Grammar Luncheon

A Tribute to the Heart of the School Originally scheduled for International Women's Day but rescheduled (thanks, Cyclone Alfred!) to the eve of Mother's Day, the timing felt serendipitous. It was a day to honour the women—past and present—whose quiet strength, tireless support and enduring love have shaped the School's legacy and the lives of its boys for 150 years. The marquee was beautifully appointed for a day of merriment

Read More
Old Boys
/
Thursday, 08 May 2025

Lachlan Stuart's Marathon Feat

Mr Stuart will return to TGS again for the event held on Wednesday, 28 May to support the Year 12's significant fundraising G150 Gift Run event. The boys are running 1500km in a relay format to honour a 1968 TGS Interact Club fundraising project that will help upgrade the original School gates on Herries Street, along with raising funds for the Nerve Connection Foundation.

Read More