Mandurah Name Origins — Aboriginal History Worksheet (Age 9)

Instructions

Read the short story about the history of Mandurah's name. Then, complete the fun activities below to see what you have learned!

The Story of Mandurah's Name

Every place has a story, and the name "Mandurah" has a very special one that is thousands of years old. Before European settlers arrived, the land where Mandurah is today was home to the Bindjareb people, who are part of the larger Noongar nation.

The name Mandurah comes from the Noongar word "Mandjar". This word means "meeting place" or "trading place". For the Bindjareb people, this area was a very important spot. The beautiful waterways were full of fish, crabs, and other food, making it a perfect place to live and gather.

Because there was so much food and water, different family groups would travel to Mandjar to meet up. Here, they would trade goods like tools and food, share stories, and hold ceremonies. It was a bustling, central hub for the community. When European settlers wrote the name down, they changed the spelling from "Mandjar" to "Mandurah", but its meaning as a special "meeting place" is still an important part of its history.

Activity 1: Fill in the Blanks

Use the words in the box below to complete the sentences. Each word is used only once.

1. The name Mandurah comes from the _______________ word "Mandjar".

2. The original word, _______________, means "meeting place".

3. The local Aboriginal people of the area are the _______________ people.

4. It was an important place for _______________ goods like tools and food.

5. Mandjar was a central _______________ place for different family groups.

Activity 2: True or False?

Read each sentence carefully. Circle TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if it is not.

1. The name Mandurah comes from an Italian word.
   TRUE / FALSE


2. "Mandjar" means "a place with lots of sand."
   TRUE / FALSE


3. The waterways around Mandurah were a good source of food.
   TRUE / FALSE


4. The Bindjareb people are the traditional owners of the Mandurah area.
   TRUE / FALSE

Activity 3: Word Scramble

Unscramble the letters to spell out important words from the story.

1. ARJDNMA → ____________________
2. GNOTIDAR → ____________________
3. RAGNOON → ____________________
4. IBERJDBAN → ____________________

Activity 4: Be an Historian!

Imagine you are visiting the "Mandjar" meeting place long, long ago. What would you see? What would you hear? In the box below, draw a picture of the scene. You could draw people fishing for crabs, trading tools, or telling stories around a campfire.

Answer Key

Activity 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. Noongar
2. Mandjar
3. Bindjareb
4. trading
5. meeting

Activity 2: True or False?

1. FALSE
2. FALSE
3. TRUE
4. TRUE

Activity 3: Word Scramble

1. MANDJAR
2. TRADING
3. NOONGAR
4. BINDJAREB

Activity 4: Be an Historian!

Answers will vary. The drawing should reflect an understanding of the area as a meeting and trading place for Aboriginal people (e.g., show water, people, fishing, trading, camps).