WUNYA NGULUM (Welcome Everyone!) from the GUBBI GUBBI people of the beautiful Sunshine Coast, Queensland Gubbi Gubbi Dance is a group of indigenous artists & performers. Gubbi Gubbi (pronounced gub-bee) is the language spoken by the traditional custodians of the area. Lyndon Davis and Shannon Chilly, direct descendants of the Gubbi people, founded the troupe in 1996. Bringing together family members and local young indigenous people to celebrate the dances of their homelands. They have gained a strong rapport throughout their community taking great pride in their culture and feeling blessed to share their knowledge. Gubbi Gubbi dance provide an unforgettable cultural experience. Their magical presentation of song and dance leaves the audience spellbound and has built them a reputation of being one of the most well renowned traditional aboriginal dance troupes in Southeast Queensland.

About Gubbi Gubbi History

All members were born and raised on the Sunshine Coast and hold a very special bond to the area. Many of the dances are direct descendants of the local Gubbi people, traditional custodians.

Gubbi Gubbi was the name of the actual language spoken by the people. Gubbi Gubbi means "NO".

Our lands stretched from Pine River in the south, to Burrum River in the north, Connondale ranges to the west. Our territories were bordered by mountain ranges and river systems. There were many "clans" within this vast area, approximately 20, numbering from 150 to 500 strong. All of these family groups shared this language, and would come together on a regular basis for special ceremonies, such as marriage, initiation, and especially festivals.

One Festival that held great significance was of the Bunya gathering, held every three years in the Bunya Mountains. People would come from far and wide to be involved in the important meetings, Bundaberg in the north, to Bourke down south, and Taroom out west. Naturally only the fittest and strongest would make the journey from those distant places. The Bunya Mountains gathering were quite large scale, but also there was a small scale bunya gathering, held every year in the Blackall Range on the Sunshine Coast, At a place we now call Baroon Pocket Dam.

Gubbi lands were a very popular place for many people, not only for Gubbi people, but also for all in the surrounding area.

ALL OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE A BLUE CARD ENABLING THEM TO WORK WITHIN SCHOOLS