The name Kuringgai, also written Guringai, has often been used as a collective denominator of the Awabakal and several other tribes in this belt, but Norman Tindale has challenged it as an arbitrary coinage devised by ethnologist John Fraser in 1892.

[3] In their language, awaba was the word for Lake Macquarie, meaning flat or plain surface, and by extension referred to the people native to that area.

[6] The Awabakal, in pre-colonisation times, were noted as being strong and determined defenders of their territory, the means by which the defence occurred need to be explored to deepen understanding of the culture.

[citation needed] They had possession of the coastal territory for thousands of years, during which time they successfully repelled incursions by the neighbouring Gamilaraay people and established places of defence, "virtual armouries", high in the Watagan Mountains.

[10] Following 13 years of local activism,[11] representation, and negotiation with the former owners, the NSW Government acquired a parcel of land surrounding the Butterfly Cave that was earmarked for development by Hammersmith Management, which is owned by the Roche Group.

[10] The 25.74-hectare [63.6-acre] plot, purchased by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service protects the Cave and the surrounding cultural landscape, including vital elements such as aquifers, traditional journey paths, creeks, stone arrangements and food source areas.

The NSW Government will consult with the local Aboriginal community on future management of the site and protection of the surrounding cultural landscape.

[14] Wollotuka, meaning an 'eating and meeting place' originally began as a support programme in 1983 to assist and promote university studies for indigenous people.