Indigenous Pre-history
Strangways Springs have been/ and still are important to the Arabana people both physically and spiritually.
Physically the springs were an unfailing reserve of water in the frequent dry times, although Aboriginal people did prefer the less saline water from rock holes, soaks and creek lines when available. Archaeological material such as grinding stone fragments, flakes, chips, cores, hearthstones and animal bones are very common around Strangways and most other mound springs, providing abundant evidence of long Aboriginal occupation.
Spiritually Strangways has been an important mythological site. Until European exploration it was known as Pangki Warrunha which means ‘White Ribs’, a reference to the white banding that occurs on a number of the springs.
The myth relating to this site refers to the two ancestral Snakes Kurkari (Green Snake) and Yurkunangku (Red-bellied Black Snake).
Yurkunangku had come from Kulatanha (Kurlarta) Springs in the Northern Territory, while Kurkari came from Arltunda (Erldunda), also in the Northern Territory.
The Snakes are involved in the creation of the mound springs and other natural landmarks and together they journey great distances, and have many adventures on the way. They camp overnight at Strangways and waking in the morning they say: ‘Eh, old fellow my friend/ our ribs have turned white! It’s because we have travelled such a long way!’ The snakes continue their journey south to Yarra Wurta cliff at the northern end of Lake Torrens before returning to their final resting place at Margaret Springs 21 km south of Strangways.
The Snake mythology extends from the Northern Territory to South Australia, linking the Lower Southern Aranda, Arabana, and Kuyani people who lived here before European occupation.
European settlement quickly followed exploration and Arabana people were dispossessed. Cattle grazing and drought impacted heavily on traditional food sources and many Arabana moved for rations and employment to the various major centres – Strangways, Anna Creek/ Wood Duck, the Peake, Cootanoorina, Wandillina (near Mt. Dutton), Oodnadatta and Finniss Springs. Others camped near railway sidings living in semi-traditional fashion.
An influenza epidemic in 1919 wiped out whole families and even whole groups, particularly those camped by the railway lines. The majority of remaining Arabana live in localities such as Marree and Pt. Augusta.