Vignette 138: The New Testament translated

In 1897, the small Barossa Valley printery of G Auricht published the first translation of the entire New Testament into an Australian Aboriginal Language: Testamenta Marra: Jesuni Christuni ngantjani jaura ninaia karitjimalkana wonti Dieri jaurani. Written in the South Australian Dieri language, it was created by Koppamarra missionary Reverend Johann Georg Reuther, with assistance from Carl Strehlow. 

Reuther and Strehlow began translating in 1893, finishing the project in 1895. Reuther added a preface in 1896 and continued revising the text until its publication in 1897.

Only 500 editions of Testamenta Marra were printed. Sir Samuel Way sent copies to the British Museum, Harvard University, and the Bodleian, Christ Church and Athenaeum libraries, among others, transforming what might have been a rare text into a worldwide holding.

Way bequeathed a copy to the University Library which remains in the rare books collection. Testamenta Marra is an incredible historical record that we can use to understand the past, while acknowledging the resilience of the Aboriginal peoples whose knowledges were used to create the book. 

The University of Adelaide: 150 Years of Making History.  Preserving a legacy.  p.185