The Baroon History Group is quietly but persistently addressing one of the most profound silences in Australian history, right here on the Blackall Range.
Meeting four times a year in the Green Room of Mapleton Public House, the group has become an important forum for truth-telling about the region’s Indigenous past and the devastating impacts of colonisation on the traditional custodians of Baroon Pocket.
The group emerged from a 2021 community workshop convened by the Mapleton and District Community Association, MADCA, which revealed strong local interest in Indigenous history and cultural awareness. What followed was the formation of Talking Country – Building Bridges, a community initiative that has evolved into what is now known as the Baroon History Group.
“What happened? Why weren’t we told? What are the secrets under the lake?” These questions, posed by the group, reflect a growing community desire to understand the full story of the Blackall Range.
Before European settlement, Baroon Pocket was a vital gathering place for the Kabi Kabi and neighbouring peoples. The Bunya Festival brought tribal groups from across south-east Queensland and beyond to socialise, conduct ceremonies, resolve disputes, arrange marriages and trade. Early documentation from Dr Stephen Simpson’s 1842 report describes “Boorum” as a significant Aboriginal meeting ground, and pioneer Tom Petrie attended the festival in 1845 at age 14, travelling with 100 Aboriginal people from Brisbane.
These gatherings came to an abrupt end around 1902 as European settlement took hold. What followed was a tragic chapter of forced removals, displacement and dispossession, including the removal of Indigenous people under the Queensland Act of Parliament (1897) to missions such as Barambah, later renamed Cherbourg.
Over the past four years, the Baroon History Group has presented a series of talks and events to foster understanding about Aboriginal culture and the historical impacts of colonisation. Topics have covered forced removal of children, Aboriginal reservations, assimilation policies and the important changemakers in Queensland’s history.
The group has been fortunate to draw on considerable expertise. Mapleton historian Tony Millroy has been particularly generous in sharing his knowledge of the intersection between Indigenous people and early settlers, guiding the group’s exploration of local history. Fiona McGill, chair of the Sunshine Coast Reconciliation Group, has contributed presentations on Deep Time, Indigenous Land Management and Indigenous Art. Kerry Neill from TribalLink has shared ancient stories, ways of life and knowledge of the forest and native foods.
A past highlight was a group visit to The Ration Shed Museum at Cherbourg, where members gained insights into the hardship and disruption of the Reservation system and witnessed the remarkable resilience of Indigenous people.
The group’s next presentation promises to be particularly enlightening. On Monday 23 February 2026, Dr Ray Kerkhove will present on Blackall Range Ethnohistory at the Green Room, Mapleton Public House, from 5.00pm for a 5.30pm start, concluding at 7.00pm. Entry is $5.00 and includes a light snack, with drinks available for purchase at the bar. Ray’s books will be available for sale on the night.
Dr Kerkhove is a professional ethnohistorian and writer who blends historical methods with anthropological insights to reconstruct Indigenous lifeways, including economies, material culture and plant uses. He is an expert on Blackall Range Indigenous history and specialises in identifying conflict and resistance sites from the Frontier War, as well as the tactics employed. He has written dozens of books and many heritage reports, with his work regularly informing cultural revival projects such as The Bunya Project.
Dr Kerkhove has held prestigious positions including Historian-in-Residence with Noosa Council (2020-2021) and Sunshine Coast Council (2021-2022), and was a Visiting Research Fellow at Griffith University (2017-2019). He is currently a Research Fellow at the University of Queensland’s Social Sciences School (Archaeology).
The Baroon History Group’s gatherings provide opportunities for the community to learn about and discuss local history, working towards a deeper understanding of the present-day situation. It’s a vital form of truth-telling and a way of overcoming the deep silence about Australia’s colonial past.
Those interested in attending the talk on 23 February are encouraged to RSVP to info@talkingcountrybridges.com. To join the group’s email list for future events, contact the same address.
The group meets in the historic Green Room at Mapleton Public House, a 114-year-old Blackall Range institution, creating an appropriate setting for discussions about the region’s deep history.
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