Brisbane was known as 'Mian-jin', which means 'place shaped like a spike'. The Turrbal and the Jagera had numerous campsites, including those at Woolloongabba, Toowong, Bowen Hills, Newstead, Nundah, and Nudgee, and many pathways that allowed them access to different parts of Brisbane. During certain seasons and for some ceremonies the area could become the gathering place for hundreds of people. Everyday life for the clan consisted of hunting and gathering food, with time for games, and other social and spiritual activities. Both clans roamed over a large area that encompassed forest, scrub, and the coastal lowlands, which featured swamps, lagoons, and pockets of rainforest. The coastal areas were rich in food and the Aborigines here were said to number 5,000 prior to white occupation.

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