Moggill Bora Ring
The Moggill bora ring at the western end of Riversleigh Road, Bellbowrie (102 Riversleigh Road, Bellbowrie; grid reference 27033’08” S, 152052’58” E) is a raised circular earthen structure some 300 mm above the surrounding soil and around 22 metres in diameter.
Despite the disappearance of the second smaller ring usually associated with the main ring, locally it is our largest and best preserved bora ring.
Earthen bora rings are usually part of a complex of two or three rings excavated with digging sticks and linked by a path or paths.
The large ring played a major role in a relatively public ceremony involving transformation of young men (kippas) into grown men (hence the suburb Kippa-ring); women were allowed to look on. The smaller ring was the site of other ceremonial rites for initiated men and initiates only.
The Moggill bora ring is close to Pullen Pullen Creek and lends confirmation to the origin of the name “Pullen Pullen” being a corruption of bullen bullen, itself derived from bul meaning a tournament.
Moggill Historical Society erected an interpretation sign here in 2019, explaining something of the importance of this reminder of the area’s original inhabitants.
Long-time local resident Joan Westaway was delighted to see the sign installed, as she remembered coming across the bora ring in the 1960s.
