Kia - Brief Etymology of A NSW South Coast Aboriginal Word

In post colonial South Coast history Kyanga ( 1835-1849) was a young Aboriginal woman who married one of Alexander Berry’s convict workers Paddy Ryder and their daughter, Jane married James Sinclair who lived in Kangaroo Valley. They had many sons and daughters who were outstanding farmers and several served in WWI and WWII(Botsman, 2022). Kyanga’s likely father, Billy Kian, was an Aboriginal guide who helped early South Coast settlers. He was described as ‘the great grandfather of the South Coast Aboriginal community’ ("A Dying Race.," 1908) and Billy Kian’s father was Coorall who fearfully watched George Bass and his crew land at Tuross Lake in 1797. (Barlow, 26 January 1888)

In Michael Organ's book The South Coast Aborigines Francis Mc Caffery's "Notes on Illawarra Aborigines 1910-1930" notes Kiama - KIami -Kiamha  means "the great spirit"  (Organ, 1993) p 477

W. Reed, Aboriginal Place Names, Reed/New Holland, 1998 notes “Kiahma (n), an alternative form of Baiame (many spellings) the famous father spirit of eastern NSW or from KIaremie or Kiaramie, fish caught from the rocks, good fishing ground, plenty of food.” This latter meaning may apply to the seaside town of Kiama that is 120 kilometres from Sydney famous for its harbour and blow hole.

Reed also notes “Kiandool (n) baby, KIanee a big mussel (Now Ballens Bight) and Kianga (n) to fish with a light. Fish were caught in streams and lagoons, by means of light spears from canoes and attacked by torch light. Kiara (n) white cockatoo.” (Reed, 1998)

Kian is also an auspicious Irish Gaelic word that means ancient or enduring one. In Persian, Kyan means King or realm.

Reference List

Botsman, P. C. (2022). Finding Kyanga: Kevin Pearson's Story of Hope, Life and Coming Home. In.
Organ, M. K. (1993). llawarra and South Coast Aborigines 1770-1850. https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1117&context=asdpapers
Reed, A. W. (1998). Aboriginal Place Names. Reed/New Holland.