Brewarrina: Australia is home to two of the world's oldest aquaculture sites, one of which is the Brewarrina fish traps located on the Barwon River in northern New South Wales. These fish traps, also known as Baiames Ngunnhu, Nonah, or Nyemba Fish Traps, were added to the National Heritage list in 2005. They served as a crucial gathering place for up to 3,000 people from eight different tribes before colonization, with the Ngemba people being the traditional custodians of the site.
According to Global Voices, the ancestral being Baiame is believed by the Ngemba people to have demonstrated the innovative design of the traps by casting his net over the river. The fish traps, nearly half a kilometre long, are noted for their elaborate design and complexity. Created from dry-stone weirs and ponds, they were strategically constructed to take advantage of the landscape configuration and river flow changes, effectively trapping fish as they migrated upstream and downstream.
Flinders University's Claire Smith, Gary Jackson, and Jordan Ralph have highlighted the traps in discussions about potential Indigenous World Heritage sites, noting their significant historical and cultural value. The traps have been discussed as possibly the oldest human construction in the world, with some suggesting they date back 40,000 years, although their exact age remains unverified. Archaeologist Duncan Wright emphasized in 2015 that even if the traps are only 1,000 years old, they remain a remarkable testament to Aboriginal innovation and understanding of the natural landscape.
The Brewarrina fish traps have also been referenced in Bruce Pascoe's book, "Dark Emu," as evidence of pre-colonial agriculture and building construction by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Despite damage from river construction works over time, the site's historical importance endures, as pointed out by Anna Clark, Professor in Public History at the University of Technology Sydney, who has discussed Indigenous fishing practices extensively.
The Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly (MPRA) has stated that the creation of the fish traps, along with the Aboriginal Lore governing their use, played a vital role in shaping the spiritual, political, social, ceremonial, and trade relationships among Aboriginal groups across the region. The Brewarrina Aboriginal Cultural Museum remains a popular tourist destination, with its manager, Bradley Hardy, being a passionate advocate for this extraordinary example of Indigenous heritage.