We acknowledge the traditional owners of the Kulin Nation including the Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung peoples and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.
DISCOVER how European settlement impacted on Indigenous people and Indigenous landscapes such as waterways, fauna, flora, and the effects today on modern Melbourne.
VISIT Melbourne landscapes that have supported the economic and cultural life of First Nations peoples, colonial settlers, immigrants and Melbournians today.
FIND how Indigenous knowledge is used by the City of Melbourne to fight climate change (Care for Country Strategy). This includes how Indigenous resources were used for food, tools, shelter and medicine by traditional owners, colonists, immigrants and Melbournians today.
EXPLORE sites connected to the Batman Treaty, Indigenous Seasons, landmarks, and Aboriginal territories.
RECEIVE our history book (pdf) written by ourselves in partnership with the Boon Wurrung Foundation and the City of Port Phillip.
NOTE: Our guides are not usually Indigenous, we come from the Reconciliation perspective of how contemporary Australians can learn from our landscapes and their use by Indigenous culture, settlers, immigrants and our modern city to create a sustainable Australia.
SEE: BOOKINGS AND PRICES – FOR SCHOOLS, GROUPS, INDIVIDUALS
(An additional surcharge may apply for bushtucker materials).
”People thought the route you chose for our walk was fantastic. The content was informative, educative, enjoyable and so interesting.”
Port Phillip Reconciliation Action Group.
‘We thoroughly enjoyed the walk by the Yarra River in the CBD. The students all completed detailed reflections and summaries from the information shared. Thanks for making it so interactive, real, and relevant to the lives of the Year Nine students!”
Caulfield Grammar
“We all thought it was excellent: interesting, informative, and very hands-on. The students certainly learned a lot and enjoyed themselves.”
Athol Primary School.
“For Outdoor and Environmental Studies, this tour is a must!!”
Bendigo Catholic College.
ROUTES:
MELBOURNE CITY CENTRE: Our city tours usually start and finish at Federation Square and explore Birramung Marr Park, the Birrarung (Yarra River), Federation Wharf and surroundings.
SUBURBS: Our Indigenous landscape tours have also been conducted in suburban locations including Black Rock, St Kilda, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, Elwood, Merri Creek, Maribyrnong, Brighton, Bulleen, Elwood, Fitzroy, Clifton Hill, Ascot Vale, Kananook Creek, Footscray, Gardenvale Creek, Gasworks Park, Carlton Gardens, Hawthorn, Richmond, Alphington, Reservoir and others.
Melbourne Walks is the author of two award-winning books in collaboration with the Wurundjeri Council, Boon Wurrung Foundation, Koorie Heritage Trust and Aboriginal Studies Press:
‘Melbourne Dreaming. A Guide to Important Places Past and Present’ and Yalukit Willam, The River People of Port Phillip (City of Port Phillip).
SEE also our foraging tour: LIVING WILD OFF THE LAND
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- Our recently published book: Melbourne Deaming
FURTHER READING
- Site at Ricketts Point and Black Rock
- Indigenous Plant Use (online). A booklet on the medicinal, nutritional and technological use of indigenous plants, Zena Cumpston, Melbourne University 2020.
- Koorie Plants. Koorie People. Beth Gott.
- Melbourne Dreaming. A Guide to Important Places Past and Present, 2014, Meyer Eidelson, Aboriginal Studies Press.
- The Biggest Estate on Earth, Bill Gammage.
- Yalukit Willam. The River People of Port Phillip, 2014, Meyer Eidelson, City of Port Phillip, Boonwurrung Foundation.
- Aboriginal Melbourne: the Lost Land of the Kulin People, Gary Presland.
- Aboriginal Victorians. A history since 1800, Richard Broome, Allen and Unwin 2005.
- Meerreeng-an. Here is my Country. The Story of Aboriginal Victoria told through art. Chris Keeler and Vicky Couzens 2010. I Succeeded Once. The Aboriginal Protectorate on the Mornington Peninsula, Marie Fels 2011.
- 1835: The Founding Of Melbourne And The Conquest Of Australia by James Boyce 2011.
- Eight Wurundjeri Seasons in Melbourne. Jim Poulter
- Archaeology of the Dreamtime, J Flood, Angus and Robertson, 2001.
- Remains to be Seen. Archaeological Insights into Australian pre-history.
- David Frankel. Good Men and True. The Native Police of Port Phillip. Marie Fels.
- A Bend in the Yarra : a history of the Merri Creek Protectorate Station, Ian Clark, Toby Heydon.