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To this day some conjecture remains over the origin and meaning of the name "Jimbour" as it relates to the vast original holdings of Jimbour Station.
Jimbour Station came into existence in 1841 when Irishman Henry Dennis settled in the area and took up the Jimbour run on behalf of the first owner, Richard Scougall, who had come to Australia from Scotland in 1832. He established a flock of 11,000 sheep and 700 head of mixed cattle, making it the first fully stocked station on the Darling Downs.
At that time the sight of such vast numbers of sheep would have been a new experience and curiosity for Aboriginal people passing through the region.
When ownership of the holdings changed hands in 1844 (purchased by Thomas Bell), records show the station registered under the name "Gimba" or "Jimba" which was then thought to be the Aboriginal word for "good pastures" Over time the name evolved into "Jimbour"reflecting a common English pronunciation.
However, an examination of records in subsequent years has raised other possibilities; particularly as it would appear unusual for Aboriginal language to have reference to pastures or "good pastures"at this time of white agricultural settlement.
The word for sheep in the dialect of the Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay people who would have visited the region from northern New South Wales was "thimba". Historians in the 1850's wrote "thimba"as "jimba" The word describes a white mist preceding a shower which a flock of sheep resembles or a sheep eating grass.
So what was the true origin and meaning of the word from which Jimbour evolved?
Was it "Jimba" meaning good pastures or "Jimba" meaning sheep?
You be the judge. |
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