GURANGATCH AND MIRRIGAN

This is the Aboriginal Dreaming Story of how the Wollondilly, Cox, and Guineacor Rivers, Wombeyan and Jenolan Caves were created.

Mirrigan was a keen fisherman, who wanted to catch many fish as he could, one day he was fishing in a lagoon where he caught site of Gurangatch. Gurangatch was a beautiful animal with eyes like stars and colours of the rainbow. Mirrigan was determined to catch him no matter how long it took. He sat for days on the banks trying to come up with a plan.

One day he decided to poison Gurangatch out of the water. He put as much bark in the water as he could, hoping this would make Gurangatch emerge. After a long time, he realised that his plan was not working. He was starting to get very cranky and decided to add some more bark.

Gurangatch was watching and he thought he might have been up to something else, so when Mirrigan went to get some more bark Gurangatch decided he would make his escape. As he was leaving he tore up the ground for many miles causing the water to flow behind him, this in tum made the valley of the Wollondilly River. He then travelled underground for many more miles, when he came out of the side of the hill it was a very high and rocky ridge, which is now known as Rocky waterhole. He noticed that Mirrigan was following closely on his trail. He then turned around creating the junction of the Guineacor River. He turned left and continued its course for another few miles he then formed Jocks Creek - which flows into the Wollondilly. He then burrowed deep into the ground forming the Wombeyan Caves.

Mirrigan was always close behind Gurangatch, he knew where he had gone, he decided that he would try to frighten Gurangatch out of his hole by poking sticks down through the top, making a lot of little holes across the top of Wombeyan Caves. But this did not work (these holes can still be seen on top of Wombeyan Caves today).

Gurangatch escaped through his tunnel to the Wollondilly River again. Mirrigan’s family lived a few miles down the creek, they begged Mirrigan to leave Gurangatch alone, but Mirrigan wouldn't, he chased him again, overtook him and met him at slippery rock, they had a big fight until they made the rock very smooth; (this is how Slippery rock got its name). After a long fight, Gurangatch escaped and continued on his way. The water still flowing after him. Mirrigan did not stop, each time he caught him they would fight. The battle continued down Cox's River to the Katoomba Creek. Gurangatch then turned and went back along the Cox River. He burrowed underground at Mouin Mountain; here he made a very deep waterhole. After much traveling he came to Jenolan caves, where he met his relatives. He told them he was very tired after trying to escape Mirrigan who was still after him. They helped him and took him to a dark deep waterhole. Mirrigan could not catch Gurangatch so he sought the help of his friends; He asked them to send the best divers they had. They thought about this then decided to send Billagoola the shag, Goolagwangwan the Diver, Gundhareen the Black Duck and Goonarring the Wood Duck

When Mirrigan and his friends arrived at the waterhole where Gurangatch was hiding, Gundhareen the Black Duck dived into the hole, he quickly came back up and said there is no bottom it is too deep. The others laughed, Goolagwangwan the Diver said "I will teach you how to dive, there is no waterhole in the land that I cannot dive", after a while he returned with a small fish, Mirrigan grew very angry, and yelled "NO it is too small" Billagoola the shag went next, when he had went down a long, long way, he saw a lot of little fish trying to hide Gurangatch with mud, Billagoola tried to capture Gurangatch but he was too quick and dived between the crevices of a rock, Billagoola tried again this time he tore a great piece out of Gurangatch. When Mirrigan saw the flesh he was very happy, "this is a piece of the fish that I have been chasing for many days and nights". They started a fire and cooked the meat. After they had eaten it, Mirrigan and his friends returned home.

Gurangatch still rests in the deep waterhole at Jenolan Caves.