Baiame

Sky-father creator deity of the Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi (Gamilaraay), Wonnarua, and Eora language groups of southeastern Australia. Per canonical-Wiradjuri narrative, emerged from his stone home, traveled across Country shaping the landscape and instituting the law, then returned to his sky-home. Extensively documented by Howitt (1904) as one of the most-cohesive regional Dreaming-frameworks of southeastern Australia. The Baiame Cave rock-art panel at Milbrodale (Hunter Valley, NSW) — large-scale ochre-painted figure with extended-outstretched arms — is the canonical iconographic anchor and one of the most-iconic Aboriginal Australian Dreaming-rock-art images. Mount Yengo (NSW), a flat-topped mountain in the Hunter Valley, is canonically the spot from which Baiame ascended to the sky after completing his creator-work — flat-top visually preserved as the mark of his departure. Continues as central cultural-religious framework for contemporary Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi, Wonnarua, and Eora communities.

Children

• Daramulun

Domains

• supreme creator
• sky
• justice
• initiation

Powers

• gives the people their law, marriage rules, songs and rites
• withdraws to and dwells in his sky-camp (Bullimah) after creation
• Casts a great net to design the fish-traps
• Institutes initiation law and rites
• Shapes Country as he travels the Dreaming

Epithets

• Baiame
• Byamee

Relations

• spouse: Birrahgnooloo
• father of: Daramulun

Sources

• Howitt, Native Tribes of South-East Australia (1904) Ch. X
• K. Langloh Parker, The Euahlayi Tribe (1905)
• Baiame Cave rock-art panel, Milbrodale, NSW
• AIATSIS heritage record; Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi/Wonnarua community-authorized publications