Exploring the Mystical Djarrugan: Walsh’s Pyramid’s
Nestled 20 kilometers south of Cairns in the enchanting Far North Queensland, the magnificent Walsh’s Pyramid, or as the original custodians of this land named it, “Djarrugan,” rises majestically to an elevation of 922 meters. This sacred land bears a name of profound significance: “Bunda Djarruga Murrgu,” translating to the “Hill of the Scrub Hen’s Earth-mound Incubator Nest.” This ancient name carries with it a rich narrative and an intrinsic connection to the land itself, far more evocative than its post-colonial moniker, which pays homage to W.H. Walsh, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in 1873, a man who never set foot in North Queensland.
With my DJI Air 2 S in hand and a 30 minute drive south from Cairns, I couldn’t help but ponder my own story and the significance of being drawn to this iconic peak on a day when I too had to incubate new ideas. What ancient forces guided my path this day to this ancient mound of earth and rock? Djarrugan, with its ancestral name, still whispering its secrets of ancient stories from a time when the Scrub Hen cared for her precious incubating nest atop this hill, a testament to the enduring bond between the land and its custodians.
