Waveroo

The Waveroo people The Waveroo (also known as Waywurru, the community's preferred modern spelling) are an Aboriginal people of north-eastern Victoria. Their traditional country extends from the Ovens Valley and Kiewa Valley through Wodonga, Beechworth, and Yackandandah to parts of the upper Murray River region. The name "Waveroo" is likely a Kulinic exonym — a name given by neighbouring groups — while "Pallanganmiddang" is used as both a clan name and linguistic designation. Waveroo country encompasses the valleys and ranges of the Victorian alps foothills, where the Ovens and Kiewa rivers provided abundant resources. Two main local groups are recorded: the Pallangan-middang and Tare-re-mittung clans. The region was a place of seasonal gathering, with the rivers and their floodplains supporting rich communities of fish, waterbirds, and plant foods. The proximity to the Murray River made this area a meeting point with neighbouring Wiradjuri people from the New South Wales side. The Waveroo/Waywurru language is classified as extinct, with a surviving vocabulary of approximately 300 words. Despite this loss, the Waywurru Women's Collective and other community members are actively working to share and preserve their language, culture, and history, ensuring that Waywurru identity continues for future generations.