Location: Eastern side of Spencer Gulf from a little north of the mouth of the Broughton River and vicinity of Crystal Brook northward to Port Augusta; east to Melrose, Mount Remarkable, Gladstone, and Quorn; at Baroota. The Ngaiawang of the Murray River used the term Nokunno as name of a fabulous Being who went about by night killing people. The Kaurna tribe term ['nokun:a] has a meaning of an imaginary being, like a man, who prowls at night and kills, an assassin (Teichelmann and Schürmann, 1840). The Nukunu were the southeasternmost tribe to practice subincision, in addition to circumcision, as a male initiation rite. Pangkala men used the pronunciation ['Nukuna] for the name. The few survivors are settled at Baroota inland from Port Germein where they are known as Barutadura.
Co-ordinates: 138°10'E x 32°55'S
Area: 2,200 sq. m. (5,700 sq. km.)
References: Teichelmann and Schürmann, 1840; Schürmann, 1844, 1846; Moorhouse, 1846; Wilhelmi, 1860; Hack in Taplin, 1879; Valentine in Curr, 1886; East, 1889; Mathews, 1900 (Gr. 6448); Black, 1917; Gray, 1930; Elkin, 1931, 1938; Tindale, 1940, and MS, Tindale in Condon, 1955; Wurm, 1963; A.I.A.S. Report, 1966.
Alternative Names: Wongaidja (valid alternative), Nukuna, Nukunnu, Nugunu, Nookoona, Nukunna, Noocoona, Nokunna, Nuguna, Pukunna (misprint), Wongaidja, Wongaidya, Tura (['tura] = man), Tyura, Doora, Eura (general term for several tribes), Warra (name of language), Barutadura (men of Baroota).