Boobera Lagoon
Encyclopedia
Boobera Lagoon is a permanent water hole approximately 20 kilometers west of Goondiwindi, Australia. It is located at 28.63°S 150.15°E. It lies several kilometres south of the Macintyre River
, which forms the border between Queensland
(to the north) and New South Wales
, and is just north of the Mungindi - Goondiwindi road. Its outflow, which connects to the river, is named Boobera Watercourse.
The lagoon
is 7 kilometres in length and supports a wide variety of aquatic and bird life.
The Indigenous people of the area believe the lagoon is the resting place of Garriya,
the Rainbow Serpent
, an important figure in dreamtime
legend. The lagoon was particularly significant to the Bigambul
and Kamilaroi
people, who held the third stage of their joint male initiation ceremonies at this site.
Today Boobera Lagoon is recognised as a culturally significant site and motorised water sport is prohibited on the Lagoon.
MacIntyre River
The Macintyre River is a river in northern New South Wales, Australia, part of which forms the border with Queensland.The headwaters of the Macintyre River rise west of Guyra and south of Glen Innes on the Northern Tablelands...
, which forms the border between Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
(to the north) and New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, and is just north of the Mungindi - Goondiwindi road. Its outflow, which connects to the river, is named Boobera Watercourse.
The lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
is 7 kilometres in length and supports a wide variety of aquatic and bird life.
The Indigenous people of the area believe the lagoon is the resting place of Garriya,
the Rainbow Serpent
Rainbow Serpent
The Rainbow Serpent is a common motif in the art and mythology of Aboriginal Australia. It is named for the snake-like meandering of water across a landscape and the colour spectrum caused when sunlight strikes water at an appropriate angle relative to the observer.The Rainbow Serpent is seen as...
, an important figure in dreamtime
Dreamtime
In the animist framework of Australian Aboriginal mythology, The Dreaming is a sacred era in which ancestral Totemic Spirit Beings formed The Creation.-The Dreaming of the Aboriginal times:...
legend. The lagoon was particularly significant to the Bigambul
Bigambul
The Bigambul are an Indigenous Australian tribe living in the border region of Queensland and New South Wales. The name of this tribe is derived from the Bigambul word biga or pika which translates in English to yes....
and Kamilaroi
Kamilaroi
The Kamilaroi or Gamilaraay are an Indigenous Australian people who are from the area between Tamworth and Goondiwindi, and west to Narrabri, Walgett and Lightning Ridge, in northern New South Wales...
people, who held the third stage of their joint male initiation ceremonies at this site.
Today Boobera Lagoon is recognised as a culturally significant site and motorised water sport is prohibited on the Lagoon.