Population estimates of Aboriginal people.

Date: 6 Nov 1841
Place: Murrumbidgee
Colonists report evaluations Aboriginal workers on their stations. Colonists report evaluations Aboriginal workers on their stations. John Peter of Yass estimated the population within about 70km of where the Port Phillip road crosses the Murrumbidgee to be about 100.
This may be useful for estimating changes in population when data on precolonial population distributions based on updated methods becomes available.
The present Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council LGA overall population distribution is 3 people/km2.
Looking at this as a 70 * 70km square, the population density of Aboriginal people is about 0.02 people/km2. Looking at this as a strip of people living within 1km of a 70km stretch or river it's 0.2 people/km2.
Shelley of Tumut estimated 400 Aboriginal people lived in the Murrumbidgee district (the whole region between the Murrumbidgee and Murray River according to contemporary maps). Over an area of about 60,000km2 this suggests population density of Aboriginal people, 0.006 p/km2. An earlier gathering of 1000 in the area suggests a population reduction of at least about 60%.

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Sources

  • COUNCIL PAPERS. (1841, November 6). The Sydney Herald (NSW : 1831–1842), p. 4; Ham, Thomas. (1849). A map of Australia Felix Retrieved October 23, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-231450539

Event mentions

  • Population estimates of Aboriginal people.
    6 Nov 1841 — Murrumbidgee
    Colonists report evaluations Aboriginal workers on their stations. Colonists report evaluations Aboriginal workers on their stations. John Peter of Yass estimated the population within about 70km of where the Port Phillip road crosses the Murrumbidgee to be about 100.
    This may be useful for estimating changes in population when data on precolonial population distributions based on updated methods becomes available.
    The present Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council LGA overall population distribution is 3 people/km2.
    Looking at this as a 70 * 70km square, the population density of Aboriginal people is about 0.02 people/km2. Looking at this as a strip of people living within 1km of a 70km stretch or river it's 0.2 people/km2.
    Shelley of Tumut estimated 400 Aboriginal people lived in the Murrumbidgee district (the whole region between the Murrumbidgee and Murray River according to contemporary maps). Over an area of about 60,000km2 this suggests population density of Aboriginal people, 0.006 p/km2. An earlier gathering of 1000 in the area suggests a population reduction of at least about 60%.
    Source: COUNCIL PAPERS. (1841, November 6). The Sydney Herald (NSW : 1831–1842), p. 4; Ham, Thomas. (1849). A map of Australia Felix Retrieved October 23, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-231450539