Image: Borah Crossing. Heritage NSW
Produced by Kirstyn Lindsay
Borah Crossing is an ancient campground home to sacred sites and family tradition, a special place that holds many memories for Gomeroi/Gamilaraay families. The site sits between Gunnedah and Manilla on the Gamilaraay Nation. The water story of the Namoi River and Keep It Dam is an integral part of the cultural landscape of Borah Crossing and is now being celebrated as a declared Aboriginal Place under protection of the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, Aboriginal area means lands dedicated as an Aboriginal area under this Act.
“Let’s share it and respect it together.”
Bulingha Murri Ganuur, Uncle Greg Griffiths is a descendent of Yawirawiri Murri Ganuur, Guyinbaraay/Guinberai clan of the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay Aboriginal peoples. Uncle Greg reflects on the powerful words of his father “Never forget Borah Crossing”. In this interview for Koori Radio News, he can’t explain how that feels to be honoring his father and the birthing ground of his ancestors, so he shares his story on why these words inspired him to start the process for Borah Crossing to be protected as an Aboriginal Place declared by the New South Wales Government.
Traditionally used by the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people for ceremony and trade, Borah Crossing later became a travelling stock route during colonisation. Greg Griffiths wants families to come home to Borah and talk together by the fire and make decisions on the future of the site so the land can be managed for the future generations to care for and continue their cultural practices.
Image: Uncle Greg Griffith at the celebration event for Borah Crossing. 18 April 2026. Heritage NSW
Cultural governance; the next steps for Borah Crossing
Gomeroi Murri Peter White has been working in the cultural heritage space for most of his adult life. Traditionally his family has a long history of camping on one of the grounds that became the travelling stock route. As our conversation shifts into the water story of country on Borah, Peter explains the challenges of keeping the site clean and how a shared management plan is now the next step for Borah Crossing.
The management plan will be a collaboration of the New South Wales Government working with Yawiriawiri Murri Ganuur Descendants Aboriginal Corporation and other Gamilaraay families, the Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council, the Red Chief Local Aboriginal Land Council and land managers. Uncle Peter White says respecting cultural governance and mitigating risks will be a focus when mapping heritage. This process will contribute to developing a framework to protect the ancient scar trees, burial sites, bora rings and cultural flow of the land and river country of Borah Crossing.
Peter says future generations will be able to walk country in areas that have been locked by gates since the traveling stock route took over the site and the continuation of cultural practices will be at the forefront of a shared vision for the community.
Images: (1) Deadly dancers celebration event 18 April 2026. (2) Aunty Brenda Leslie & MC Marc Sutherland celebration event 18 April 2026. (3) Borah Crossing Aboriginal Place declaration sign. (4) Water on country Borah Crossing. Images supplied: Heritage NSW.