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Historical information
Aboriginal people have lived across Victoria for over a thousand generations, maintaining complex societies with languages, kinship systems, laws and spiritualties. Aboriginal people are the original inhabitants, or First Peoples, of this state. Land forms the basis of Aboriginal existence and identity which, along with water and natural resources were sustainably managed according to traditional laws and customs. Parks Victoria website https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/managing-country-together
Aboriginal people have lived across Victoria for over a thousand generations, maintaining complex societies with languages, kinship systems, laws and spiritualties. Aboriginal people are the original inhabitants, or First Peoples, of this state. Land forms the basis of Aboriginal existence and identity which, along with water and natural resources were sustainably managed according to traditional laws and customs. Parks Victoria website https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/managing-country-together
Prior to colonisation there were approximately 250 Indigenous languages spoken in Australia (approximately 40 in Victoria). Some of these had several varieties, and there were altogether about 500 language varieties used across Australia. Before settlement Indigenous individuals were capable of speaking five or more languages fluently. When two people met, they could identify the region each came from by the way they spoke. It was a bit like travelling across Europe and recognising which country each person comes from by their language. http://vaclang.org.au/ |
The Kulin nation is an alliance of five Indegenous Australian tribes in south central Victoria, Australia. Their collective territory extends around Port Phillip and Western Port, up into the Great Dividing Range and the Loddon and Goulburn River valleys. Before British colonisation, the tribes spoke five related languages. These languages are spoken by two groups: the Eastern Kulin group of Woiwurrung, Boonwurrung, Taungurong and Ngurai-illam-wurrung; and the western language group of Wathaurung. Wikipedia.
It is their traditional lands we walk through for the majority of this walk, roughly from Werribee to Aireys Inlet. https://www.aboriginalheritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/wathaurung-aboriginal-corporation
After Aireys Inlet we enter Gadabanud and Gulidjan country, part of the Eastern Maar aboriginal group. (“Eastern Maar” is a name adopted by the people who identify as Maar, Eastern Gunditjmara, Tjap Wurrung, Peek Whurrong, Kirrae Whurrung, Kuurn Kopan Noot and/or Yarro waetch (Tooram Tribe) amongst others. https://easternmaar.com.au/)
It is their traditional lands we walk through for the majority of this walk, roughly from Werribee to Aireys Inlet. https://www.aboriginalheritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/wathaurung-aboriginal-corporation
After Aireys Inlet we enter Gadabanud and Gulidjan country, part of the Eastern Maar aboriginal group. (“Eastern Maar” is a name adopted by the people who identify as Maar, Eastern Gunditjmara, Tjap Wurrung, Peek Whurrong, Kirrae Whurrung, Kuurn Kopan Noot and/or Yarro waetch (Tooram Tribe) amongst others. https://easternmaar.com.au/)
Some Indigenous Tourism
Melbourne
- Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Museum located at the Melbourne Museum in Nicholson Street, Carlton. (Adults $15; Seniors $10; Concession and children free) https://museumsvictoria.com.au/bunjilaka/visiting/
- The Millari Garden at Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Museum. Millari, meaning 'outdoors' in Boon Wurrung and Woi Wurrung language, is an ideal spot to find out about Victoria's native plants and ingredients. Walk around the enclosure to learn about the Woolip, Gneering and Barn used to make spears, weapons and tools, and see the mountain pepper, white elderberry and kangaroo apple used for medicine and food.
- Botanical Gardens: Womin Djeka. Journey into the ancestral lands of the Kulin (Koolin) Nation in this 90 minute tour with an Aboriginal guide. Daily except Saturday 11.30 ($29-35) https://www.visitmelbourne.com/regions/melbourne/things-to-do/aboriginal-victoria/arts-and-culture/aboriginal-heritage-walk#tab-moreinfo
- Birrarung Marr: With a Koorie guide, you will learn how the land on which Melbourne is located has changed over time and learn the significance of the Birrarung Wilam. https://koorieheritagetrust.com.au/visit-us/education/#guided-walking-tours
- Koori Heritage Trust exhibitions and historical displays.
- Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner public marker. A public artwork developed by Brook Andrew andTrent Walteron located on a small reserve at the corner of Victoria and Franklin Streets close to the site known to be where two Tasmanian men were hanged in 1842.
- Angel Sculpture in Birrarung Marr.
- The Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square. A gallery combining both historical and contemporary pieces from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
- Bunjil sculpture - a 25 metre high eagle sculpture located in Wurundjeri Way, Docklands. The sculpture by Bruce Armstrong was inspired by Bunjil, the eagle regarded as the spirit creator of the Kulin nations.
- Barak building - an apartment building located at the northern end of Swanston Street, constructed in such a way as to reveal the face of William Barak. William Barak was one of the seminal Indigenous artists of Australia’s early colonial period. He was an important intermediary in the cultural dialogue that took place between the black and white inhabitants of the early Victorian settlement.
- Street Photography. A large mural on a building in Little Malop Street West of Willem Baa Nip also known as King Billy. Born in 1836 on the banks of a lagoon believed to be located in central Geelong, he was well respected, considered a learned man and became the spokesperson and negotiator for his own mob with the Europeans.
- Wathaurong glass art https://wathaurongglass.com.au/ and
- Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre https://www.narana.com.au/about-narana - Adjoining the Narana Cultural Centre, the four-acre Curragundi Native Garden is home to abundant water and land bush plant foods and medicinal flora. The garden is teeming with emus and wallabies too, all sampling the native ingredients.
- https://committeeforgeelong.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2008-2010-Indigenous-Cultural-Heritage-Trail-Report.pdf???
- Point Addis Koori Cultural Walk. a self-guided walk with signage indicating and informing significant local indigenous information based on life and the environment.
- An excellent document to read about the indigenous clans in and around Torquay is available here https://www.torquayhistory.com/our-collections/first-austsralians/wathaurong-and-land/
- Art Projects:
- White's Beach Playground, The Esplanade. This playgound acknowledging the indigenous heritage of Torquay by depiction and plantings of flora and fauna significant to the local aboriginal people. Play elements are named with the Wadawarrung (Wathaurong) names – a Flying Fox becomes Waa the Crow. Waa was one of the two totems of the Wadawrrung. Signage adds to the interpretation of the indigenous elements.
- Torquay Sundial. The Foreshore. Artists Claire Gittings and Glenn Romanis designed the images based on the flora, fauna , landscape and the indigenous sky and oral story of the Mindii. The Mindii was a great 3 pronged tongue snake who was a law keeper under the command of Bunjil. Bunjil, the eagle is depicted in the centre of the Sundial. Bunjil is one of the two totems of the Wadawarrung.
- Bells Beach Toilet Block. Mark Trinham and Glenn Romanis designed the work to represent the flora and fauna – both land and sea of the area. The Mindii and Wandji Spirit oral stories of the Wadawarrung (Wathaurong) are depicted through the Mindii, a snake with a three pronged tongue; a red bellied black snake and an eel.
- Anglesea Community House Mural designed and painted by Glenn Romanis. The work is based on the topography of Anglesea with the Anglesea River (Kuarkadorla – Fishing Place - Mullet) as the central image. The mural was created to acknowledge the indigenous heritage of Anglesea.
- Buckley's Bunyip Sculpture. Artist Jeff Raglus was commissioned to create a sculpture based on the story of William Buckley, an escaped convict who lived with the Wathaurong people for over 30 years from 1803. He was thought to be the “ghost” of the warrior, Mangowak. https://cv.vic.gov.au/stories/immigrants-and-emigrants/william-buckley/
Aireys Inlet
Apollo Bay: Aboriginal Heritage The Cape Otway area is part of the traditional lands of the Gadubanud Aboriginal People. The coastline and hinterland supplied the indigenous people fish, shellfish and other resources of food, implements and spiritual meaning over many thousands of years.
Archaeological surveys reported numerous midden and tool making sites around Cape Otway, containing shells, fishbones and remnants of tools. Some of these artifacts are on display at the Mia Mia Indigenous Culture Centre located at the Cape Otway Lightstation. Indigenous guides stationed at the Mia Mia Centre share stories and knowledge of their people as well as teaching kids about bush tucker.
Descendants of the Gadubanud people are represented today in local communities. These communities retain close links with their traditional lands and coasts, and further west are involved in managing Tower Hill Reserve near Warrnambool and Deen Maar near Portland.
Warrnambool:
Cultural groups Wurundjeri - Melbourne
Wathaurung - Gellong - apollo bay?
Keerray Woorroong
Although the developer of this resource has no indigenous heritage this material has been compiled with the intention of recognising the lands of the Traditional Owners from the Boonwurrung, Wathaurung, Gadabanud and Gulidjan peoples. It is intended to respectfully acknowledge the Aboriginal land that is an integral part of the walkers/cyclists journey.
All references have been established using material readily available through the internet and texts but should any of the material or terminology be considered incorrect, inadequate or disrespectful, we would appreciate feedback so changes can be made as appropriate: additions, deletions, corrections will be welcomed.
All references have been established using material readily available through the internet and texts but should any of the material or terminology be considered incorrect, inadequate or disrespectful, we would appreciate feedback so changes can be made as appropriate: additions, deletions, corrections will be welcomed.