23

Extract from letter dated January 22nd, 1943, received
from Mr. F. J. Watson, Union Street, Toowong.

"Regarding Tamrookum, originally this was a
grazing holding which was selected by John (Tinker)
Campbell, a prominent and somewhat picturesque pioneer
of the grazing industry, who settled there after
leaving Kittah Kittah station (later called Bebo) about
1842. In his memoirs, Campbell spelt the name, Tamrookum,
but it appears on some early maps as Ginbrookin and
Janbrakin.

The difference in spelling is, no doubt, due
to the peculiar aboriginal pronunciation of the name.
My own inquiries, with the assistance of a Logan River
aborigine, who gave me the proper pronunciation of the
name, have lead me to conclude that the name is
Dhan-burugun, meaning place of boomerangs. No reason is
assigned for the name but, probably, it was the aborigines'
name for some place where wood, suitable for boomerangs,
was to be had."