Rich red fertile soil of Cudgen and the abundant sea-life on the coast of Kingscliff attracted the Tweed aboriginal clan of the Coodjingburra to settle in this area. They spoke the Bundjalung tongue and settled upon the coastal strip running from the Brunswick River to the Tweed River and then approximately fifteen kilometers inland to the now present site of Murwillumbah. The headland at Kingscliff was an important meeting place for this clan, with numerous middens near the beach proving testimony to the fine fishing and many corroborees.
Typical of the east-coastal Aboriginals, the Coodjingburra found it unnecessay to travel in search of hunting and gathering. And as such they settled down to a peaceful life, trusted by most tribes and whites. Because of this trust they became an intermediary between tribes, setting up talks (corroborees), and the odd battle between rival tribes, for example, the Richmond Tweed Clashes.
With the onset of white settlers to the area, a young lad was occassionally employed to deliver mail between Kynnumboon (near Murwillumbah) and Casino. For this two day and five hour trip the lad was paid in tobacco and foodstuffs.
Many local Aborigines approached the height of two metres and yet their huts were built so low in the walls, a man or woman could not stand erect. The only clothing at this time was a girdle of string woven from the inner bark fibre of the flame tree. This string girdle carried their odments and was also used for fushing nets. On moving to new grounds, which was not that often, the men carried their weapons. The armory of a typical man consisted of spears, a tomahawk and shield along with a burning ember of firewood.
Although cheerful and hospitable in general, some trouble did occur in the early days with the arrival of the cedar getters. Life went on and in time trouble settled down, and even more so when the first policeman by the name of Luke Thorpy arrived in the Tweed.