Yugambeh

The Yugambeh people The Yugambeh people are the Traditional Owners of a large area of south-east Queensland, stretching from the Gold Coast hinterland and the Albert and Logan River basins west to Beaudesert, and south across the border into the Tweed Valley of northern New South Wales. Yugambeh refers to the language shared by several related groups, including the Kombumerri (coastal people), Mununjali, Wangerriburra, and Birinburra. Yugambeh country encompasses diverse landscapes — from the coastal dunes and estuaries of the Gold Coast to the rainforests of the Lamington Plateau and the fertile river flats inland. For tens of thousands of years, these varied environments provided abundant food and resources, and the area was a significant gathering ground. The Bunya (Bonyi) nut festivals, which drew people from across south-east Queensland for ceremony, trade, and feasting, are among the most celebrated cultural traditions of the region. Today, the Yugambeh Museum, Language and Heritage Research Centre in Beenleigh leads language revitalisation and cultural education programs. The Yugambeh greeting "Jingeri" — meaning hello — was widely used during the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, bringing the language to international attention.