FACT OR FICTION

Goonoo Forest (Fact)

The Goonoo State Conservation Area covers an area of 62,500 ha. It lies 40km north east of Dubbo, NSW and is an oasis of natural bushland providing refuge for threatened species such as the Malleefowl, Regent Honeyeater, Turquoise Parrot, Glossy Black-cockatoo and the Barking Owl. The Barking Owl has an extremely characteristic voice that can range from a barking dog noise to a shrill, woman-like scream, and has sometimes been referred to as the source associated with stories surrounding the presence of the Bunyip.

Bunyips (Fiction)

Bunyips are mythical creatures that supposedly lurk in swamps, billabongs, creeks, riverbeds and waterholes. It is said they have a great appetite—especially for humans—and were greatly feared by Aborigines. Descriptions of this fearsome creature vary, but all are equally terrifying.

Yowies (Fact or Fiction?)

Since the early days of European settlement in Australia, many people claim to have encountered this mythical, hairy, ape-like creature; similar to the Himalayan Yeti (Abominable Snowman) and the North American Sasquatch (Bigfoot). Reports indicate that Yowies appear to be timid creatures, not given to violence, and who emit a screeching sound before heading off into the trees when sighted. There have been claims of sightings in the Blue Mountains and in the vicinity of Dubbo in 1935 and 1969 but despite rewards being offered for their capture, so far no-one has yet produced a real live Yowie.

Bilbies (Fact)

The Greater Bilby is an endangered species. It is the largest member of the family of Bandicoots and is a desert-dwelling marsupial. It is also called the Rabbit-eared Bandicoot because of its large rabbit-like ears. It has excellent hearing and sense of smell, which make up for the fact that it has very poor eyesight. Like the Koala, the Bilby does not drink water but gets all the moisture it needs from its food which consists of insects, seeds, spiders, fruit and fungi. A portion of the profits of the sale of chocolate Easter Bilbies (as an alternative to chocolate Easter Bunnies) are channelled towards Bilby protection and research in an attempt to protect this precious Australian icon from extinction.

‘Waltzing Matilda’ (Fact and Fiction)

This song is Australia’s most popular bush ballad and is often referred to as the unofficial national anthem. The lyrics were written by the famous Australian poet, Banjo Patterson in 1895.

The story tells of a swagman who had camped at a billabong and was in the process of cooking a sheep that he had stolen. He was ‘boiling the billy’ to make a cup of tea when the owner of the aforesaid sheep arrived on the scene accompanied by three policemen (troopers). In an attempt to escape, the swagman jumped into the billabong and drowned. His ghost haunts the place where he died.

Black Panthers (Fact or Fiction?)

Rumours have circulated for years about the existence of a colony of big cats roaming the Blue Mountains. One theory is that the cats escaped from private zoos or a circus many years ago and have since bred and survived. Another theory is that American World War II airmen brought cougars with them as mascots and released them into the Australian bush. Sightings of exotic big cats in Australia began more than 100 years ago, but a report commissioned by the State Government concluded that the many hundreds of people, who claim to have seen the panthers, are wrong. It is suggested that the sightings are of domesticated cats ‘gone feral’ but not everyone is convinced of this fact.

The Min Min Lights (Fact)

The mysterious Min Min Light is an unusual light phenomenon that has been reported numerous times in eastern Australia. Stories of the lights can be found in Aboriginal myths from way before European settlement. Some accounts describe the light as approaching them several times before retreating, while others report that the light kept up with them when they were travelling in a car. Various explanations have been put forward including optical illusions, luminescent animals or a form of mirage. Nobody disputes the existence of the Min Min lights or the fact that it is quite an unnerving experience, should you encounter this phenomenon.

The Jenolan Caves (Fact)

The Jenolan Caves are a National Treasure, set in the World Heritage wilderness of the Blue Mountains, NSW. They are the world’s oldest known and dated open cave system and are the most spectacular caves in Australia. These caves were known by the Gundungurra people as ‘Binoomee’—meaning, ‘the dark place’. They were discovered by Europeans in 1838 when James Whalan, a local pastoralist, recorded their discovery. He came across them while in pursuit of a bushranger named James McKeown, who had been using the caves as a hideout. Word soon spread of the discovery of this hidden wonderland and both James Whalan and his brother Charles, acted as honorary guides until the first official cave guide, Jeremiah Wilson was appointed The Keeper of the Caves in 1866/67.