Australian Aboriginal Boomerang Facts and Types

Aboriginal Boomerangs


Basically there are three types of Boomerangs used by the Aboriginal Australians. They are

  • Hunting boomerangs
  • Returning boomerangs
  • Cross shaped boomerangs

During the olden days, all the tribes of Australia used hunting boomerang to find their prey.

" Boomerang is aunique and most remarkable tool found in the outback of Australia. "

Hunting Boomerang

It is a long curve shaped that looks like a teardrop. The length is about 2 and a half to 3 feet, weighs around 4 to 7 pounds. The edges of the boomerang are very sharp and it is not built to be returned to the person who thrown it. The main purpose of this tool is to hunt/kill the prey like Kangaroo, Cassandra, etc.

Returning Boomerang

It is a V shaped Boomerang that is made so as to get returned back. It is built around 16 to 20 inches of length or even smaller. These were not primary designed for hunting as they won’t be guaranteed for killing. Hence, it was designed as a toy for kids, who were still be able to practice throwing boomerangs and grow their skills towards it.

Very rarely they were used as hunting tools to kill small animals/birds like duck. Sometimes these will be thrown horizontally along the ground as birds take off, and the boomerang would follow them but, these are not sure to be hunted.

Cross Shaped Boomerang

Here the Boomerang will be shaped like a cross that means two wooden pieces are tied together tightly. Generally this was only used by people who are in the rainforest regions in Queensland. As they have sharp edges, they were used to hunt small rainforest birds as they kinds of weapons easily get into the trees.

However, there are many kinds of boomerang available in the market. But I always recommend you buy a boomerang that was handmade by aboriginal artists as it is genuinely made of Australian timber wood. The best way to purchase it is from the aboriginal crafts having actually made from aboriginal persons.