The Australian Yowie: Mysterious Legends of a Tribe of Hairy People

In 1804, the book Modern Geography – a Description of the Empires, Kingdoms, States and Colonies: with the Oceans, Seas and Isles: In all Parts of the World was published by John Pinkerton.  In it there is a comment regarding a population of Aborigines that shared Sydney Harbor with another tribe.  They were described as flat-nosed with wide nostrils; thick eyebrows and sunken eyes.  Their mouths were of ‘prodigious width’ with thick lips and prominent jaws.  The Aborigines regarded them as another people entirely: the Yahoos or Yowies meaning “hairy people”.

The Two Yowie Groups of Australia

The Kuku Yalanji Tribe of Tropical North Queensland, Australia believes in the existence of this creature. They claim to have coexisted with the Yowie for centuries and have a long and detailed history of attacks from them in their legends.  The Yowie is their equivalent to what Native American tribes in Northwest America call Sasquatch.

Historical accounts refer to two types of Yowie in Australia with the most prominent species being Gigantopithecus.  This is the larger species said to grow between 6 and 10 feet tall, weighing up to 1,000 lbs.  It is described as a cryptic and said to resemble a huge hair covered ape-like man with talons for fingers. Compared to the North American Sasquatch, it is believed to have more of a primate look to the face and head and walk upright.  Its temperament has also been described as more aggressive and dangerous towards humans.  The other species of Yowie is described as being smaller, between 4-5 feet tall.  While most people are skeptical of the accounts, some believe it is an ancient species of hominid that has avoided extinction.  These hominids have been depicted in local cave art as tall, hairy figures beside smaller Aboriginal figures.