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Bora Rings are a unique cultural resource, being the only material manifestation of the ceremonial and religious life of the Aboriginal people who lived in south east Queensland.
Usually, two nearby rings were used - one for the males and another, used as a communal ring. It's believed that the mens' bora rings were sacred aboriginal ritual sites for adult initiation.
Aborigines from surrounding districts as far as Pinkenba and Zillmere would congregate at Nudgee to participate in ritual ceremonies, corroborees and tribal dances.
The Nudgee Bora Ring is on the south eastern edge of the Norths Banyo Rugby League Club playing fields, in Childs Rd.
The Bora Ring was oval in shape, having dimensions of 21 metres by 17 metres. While it is not known for certain, it's believed that this was a communal ring. The original gap in the mound was apparently on the western side.
While it's not exactly sure where the nearby men's Bora Ring was located, it is believed to have been about 500m away, around the current location of Redway St.
The ring was surrounded by a fence in 1922. Even by the 1950s, the ring was well defined, with no grass growing on the (foot) hardened earth. A good cover of couch grass surrounded the ring.
A large gum tree was on the south western side, which acted as a cockatoo tree during ceremonies. Grooves cut into the trunk to help with climbing, could still clearly be seen in 1970.
From the early 1920's the Nudgee Cricket Club had a concrete cricket pitch here. It is still located about 300mm below the surface of the football field, approximately half way between the two fields. The Nudgee Lacrosse Club also had a field here in the 1920s and 30's
A pony club conducted events on the area that is now the football club. They had an oval track of approximately 400m that came close to the western edge of the ring. On competition days, horses were tied to the Bora Ring fence, and they grazed on the couch below. The oval was used for speed trials as part of the pony club competitions and later for training local trotting horses.
In the early 1970s the Banyo Football Club was granted use of the field. The Council Alderman at the time, Frank Sleeman (later to become Lord Mayor of Brisbane) was very insistent that the Bora Ring be protected and that the football club not encroach on the sacred ground.
In 1972 a bushfire ravaged the area and nearby Nudgee Waterholes. The fence and 'cockatoo' tree were destroyed.
Many people thought that the oval track used by the pony club was in fact the Bora Ring. Frank Sleeman didn't discourage this mistaken belief, in the hope that the real location would be protected. While this initiative worked to a degree, there are still local residents and even members of the Aboriginal community who mistakenly believe that the Bora Ring is underneath the football fields.
The Bora Ring was re-fenced by the Department of Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement in 1976. An interpretive sign which is still standing in the long grass, was also erected.
In the late 1990's a number of Aboriginal groups made land claims under the Native Title Act, as the traditional owners of this land.
It's expected that over the next few years the current owner, the Brisbane City Council, will be negotiating with the traditional owners for better protection and enhancement of the Bora ring site.
Latest News - Bora Ring Uncovered.
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