Traditional bush tucker from across Queensland
Staff from our regional offices across Queensland have compiled a few examples of bush tucker—native Australian plants and natural resources traditionally used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for food, medicine and cultural practices. Passed down through generations, this knowledge reflects a deep connection to Country and thousands of years of sustainable living, where bush tucker is not only a source of nourishment but also an important part of cultural identity, community wellbeing and traditional ecological understanding.
1. Burdekin Plum
Aboriginal name: Murgurah Mundtha (Birri-Gubba)
Botanical name: Pleiogynium timorense
Region: North East Queensland
2. Macadamia Nut
Aboriginal name: Goomburra/Gumburra (Yugambeh)
Botanical name: Macadamia tetraphylla
Region: South East Queensland
3. Atherton Oak Fruit
Aboriginal name: Danggaja (Ngadjon Jii)
Botanical name: Athertonia diversifolia
Region: Far North Queensland
4. Sugarbag Honey
Aboriginal name: Wunba (Djabugay)
Botanical name: Tetragonula carbonaria
Region: Far North Queensland
5. Fresh Water
Aboriginal name: Ma'wunth (Wik Mungkan)
Scientific name: H2O
Region: Aurukun
6. Blue Quandong
Aboriginal name: Murrkan/Murrgan (Yidinji)
Botanical name: Elaeocarpaceae angustifolius
Region: Cairns
7. Red Leaf Fig
Aboriginal name: Dagurrba (Ngadjon Jii)
Botanical name: Ficus congesta
Region: Malanda, Babinda
8. Common Taro
Aboriginal name: Boondarra/Boondahra (Djabugay/Tjapukai)
Botanical name: Colocasia esculenta
Region: Barron Gorge
9. Johnstone River Apple
Aboriginal name: Wudju (Jirrbul/Dyirbal)
Botanical name: Syzygium erythrocalyx
Region: Atherton Tablelands
10. Wongai
Cultural name: Eneu (Meriam people)
Botanical name: Manilkara kauki
Region: Torres Strait
Bush tucker word search
Calling all eagle eyes—try your hand at finding all the bush tucker items in this fun word search (PDF, 327 KB).
Image attributions
Burdekin plum
Tatiana Gerus from Brisbane, Australia
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10189295
Atherton Oak Fruit
Fagg, M.
https://images.ala.org.au/image/a1ac9980-1329-4aff-840d-41f69fb142f8
Blue Quandong
Daniel Ramirez
https://www.flickr.com/photos/danramarch/6201513822/
Johnstone River Apple
Tatters
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tgerus/15922302649/
Red leaf fig
Melinda Thompson
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28126222
Taro
Yongxinge
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Taro_corms_2.jpg
Wongai
Coenobita
https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/25457539
