Explanation of the Gubbi Gubbi Language

The Gubbi Gubbi people are the Traditional Custodians of the land located in South East Queensland, within the Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Maryborough and Gympie region. The traditional lands of the Gubbi Gubbi people stretches from the northern banks of the Pine River in the south; to Burrum River in the north near Maryborough and to the Conondale Ranges in the west. Gubbi Gubbi Country includes the areas of Petrie, Redcliffe, Caboolture, Bribie Island, Sunshine Coast and hinterlands, Noosa, Rainbow Beach, Hervey Bay, Maryborough and Gympie. See our Gubbi Gubbi Country page for more information.

Gubbi Gubbi or Kabi Kabi?

The correct spelling and pronunciation of the Traditional Custodians of the Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Maryborough and Gympie region is the Gubbi Gubbi people (pronunciation: Gu-bee Gu-bee).

‘Kabi Kabi’ is the incorrect spelling and pronunciation of the Gubbi Gubbi language group name. The Europeans recorded the Indigenous languages in a written form as they heard it. The spelling ‘Kabi Kabi’ is the European interpretation of the language name of Gubbi Gubbi. The Indigenous languages spoken in Australia were mostly an oral language and not recorded in written form until the arrival of the European explorers, historians and surveyors.

Historically, with no guidelines or consistency, the Gubbi Gubbi language name was written as Kabi, Kgabi or Gabi. Norman Tindale’s book ‘Aboriginal Tribes of Australia’ (1974) suggests, “difficulty arises out of early transcribers inability to hear and transcribe Australian languages correctly” (Tindale, 1974).

In 1993, the Gubbi Gubbi Elders representing the families of the Gubbi Gubbi language group got together concerned of the mispronunciation of their written name. It was settled to change the spelling of their historically written name from Kabi Kabi to Gubbi Gubbi so the language would be pronounced as intended.

To acknowledge and pay respect to the Gubbi Gubbi Traditional Custodians, the correct spelling and pronunciation of Gubbi Gubbi should only be used.

Explanation Poster

Gubbi Gubbi Dyungungoo Group Inc. have created and published a ‘Gubbi Gubbi Language Explanation’ poster. The local community may print this poster for display purposes only. Educational institutions, including schools and early learning centres, and community organisations may print this poster for display purposes only.

All rights reserved. No part of the ‘Gubbi Gubbi Language Explanation’ poster published by Gubbi Gubbi Dyungungoo Group Inc. may be reproduced, redistributed or altered in any form by any means without the prior written permission of Gubbi Gubbi Dyungungoo Group Inc. Commercial use is prohibited. This poster is protected under Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights.

For all enquiries, please email gubbigubbisec@gmail.com