Also called a nulla nulla, Waddy, or hunting stick, these Australian aboriginal clubs were used for hunting and fighting. The names for these clubs originally come from the Darug people who used to live at what is referred to as Port Jackson, Sydney.
However, there isn’t just one style or type of aboriginal club. Every tribe had its own distinct type. When buying or selling aboriginal clubs today, a lot depends on the design, rarity, and overall age. The rarer a club is, the more expensive it can be provided that it is well preserved. That said the commonly available, very simple looking clubs aren’t worth a lot.
Defining a Waddy
A waddy is a pointed club, that’s constructed using carved timber. The pointed part is heavy, which makes swinging it with at a high velocity easier. The resulting blow can be fatal if struck across the head or near a vital organ.
Waddies were capable of splitting a shield as well as stunning or instantly killing prey. Plus, expert aboriginal hunters could use it as a projectile in addition to making fire. The club was also used to punish members of tribes who broke the local law, which included resolving a conflict between two or more people or groups of people via a process of trial by ordeal. The trial by ordeal often had fighters suffer from and be able to deliver blows resulting in bone and skull fractures.
The Construction of Aboriginal Clubs
The clubs were made by men and women alike, but a few would paint them while others didn’t. The methods employed to make these clubs varied from one tribe to the next. Generally, the clubs were around a meter long, with at times a stone adhered to one end using beeswax as an adhesive along with string.
The selection of wood would be a branch that met the tree or perhaps a small young tree that was uprooted. However, the construction of these clubs often meant that they were extremely durable, with some lasting for centuries.
Do You Have a Genuine Aboriginal Club?
If you are in possession of a rare aboriginal club or an aboriginal club you have no idea about, we’d like to hear from you. We are willing to buy rare aboriginal clubs subject to our evaluation. Simply send a couple of detailed pictures via the form below and give us a few days to make an offer. You can also contact Marc Pinto directly via WhatsApp +61-411866227 for more information.
Below are examples of what Marc is after.