The Yarra Valley is world-renowned for producing world-class wines. The region’s unique flavour is thanks to a mix of soil types, cool climate and elevation variations which give its wines their signature character.
Yarra Valley has always held great significance to Wurundjeri Woi wurrung people who feel spiritual ties to its environs. Coranderrk Aboriginal Station was established here in 1863.
Coranderrk Aboriginal Station
In 1863, forty members from various Wurundjeri, Taungurong (Goulburn River), and Bun warrung clans walked to Coranderrk. From their traditional camping site at Badger Creek near Healesville and Watts River near Healesville they made their journey across Black Spur to establish themselves on land they requested exclusively for themselves – naming it Coranderrk after Christmas Bush (Prostanthera lasianthos). Kulin Ngurungaeta played an essential part in its establishment, success, and maintenance – Kulin Ngurungaeta played a significant role in its creation, success and maintenance of Coranderrk.
The Kulin people regarded this area as their Country, taking great care to ensure its long term survival. They cultivated crops on rich soils, harvested eels from rivers and tributaries, hunted kangaroo and other game in forests and wetlands, collected medicinal plants for basket-making as well as gathering medicinal bark from Birrarung (known by Wurundjeri willam people as Birrarung), collected medicinal plants as medicine for health issues or collected materials for basket-making – the Yarra River being their lifeblood while Birrarung held special significance with them being associated with creation ancestors as well as spirit beings who provided their sustenance during creation processes.
With the assistance of Scottish lay-preacher John Green, Kulin clan leaders Simon Wonga and William Barak successfully negotiated with the Victorian Government for permanent residency on Coranderrk – becoming permanent homes to 158 Kulin people from Woiwurrung and Taungurong tribes within twelve years.
Yet their success soon came under threat when the Aboriginal Protection Board threatened to close down Coranderrk Reserve and close off access for visitors. In response, locals launched what has been dubbed a’revolt at Coranderrk’.
Coranderrk residents made several deputations presentations before Parliament and the Victorian Department of Aborigines to establish their case that Coranderrk was a flourishing, self-sustaining, independent Aboriginal reserve, with white people working there as ‘helpers rather than masters’.
Coranderrk people’s determination to protect their homeland was recognized in 1882 when they won a victory at a parliamentary inquiry and were allowed to keep the reservation open. Since then, it has come to symbolize Wurundjeri people and become one of the most significant reserves in Victoria; later being listed on the National Heritage List.
Birrarung Falls
The Yarra Valley boasts numerous cultural heritage places that illuminate its Indigenous past, such as Darrabi Garden at Hurstbridge, Moor-rul Grasslands in Kangaroo Ground or GAWA Trail near Watsons Creek. You can also join a Wurundjeri education walk to explore how land shapes narrative.
Aboriginal clans of the Kulin Nation congregated along the Birrarung (River of Mists and Shadows) and its tributaries, where they hunted in wetlands, collected shellfish from its streams, as well as collecting yams, stringybark and manna gum fruits from trees in its banks. Furthermore, corroborees would take place among different Indigenous communities at this meeting point of Yarra Valley.
Today, the upper section of the Yarra River is protected, maintaining its natural beauty and ecological integrity. Meanwhile, middle section has been damaged by urban and industrial development which eroded clay soils and caused the river to become murky-coloured. Finally, lower section acts as an estuary, mixing salt water from Port Phillip Bay before flowing back into Port Phillip River.
The Yarra River provides shelter to an abundance of birdlife, such as pelicans, ducks and swans. Additionally, fish populations thrive there, as do small populations of platypus.
An incredible diversity of landscapes including mountains, gullies, forests and plains provides habitats for indigenous plants, birds and animals. The Wurundjeri depend heavily on the river for food and resources – gathering yams in Bulleen’s wetland areas while collecting eucalyptus bark to use in spear making or canoe building or simply as tea replacement! They rely heavily on river transport too!
Aboriginal peoples hold a special spiritual connection with the Yarra River and its tributaries, viewing it as a source of nourishment and life-force for their nation. Knowing and respecting its presence as well as spirit presences has always been part of their cultural ethos, leading them to look after it meticulously over the generations. Additionally, its diversity of topography and climate contribute to creating world class wines such as complex Pinot Noir with balanced acidity and tart fruity notes from Yarra Valley’s diverse topography and climate.
Bolin Lagoon
At the end of a gravel path past Bulleen Park’s sports field, two tracks converge into a shady billabong. One path wind around both ends of the lagoon and alongside its archery ground; while another bush track travels through an undulating bend of the Yarra. Both tracks lead into dense vegetation which provide shelter to many creatures living in wet lands.
Along the Yarra Valley, lagoons and billabongs were key sources of both food and shelter. When summer rolled around, fish and eels teemed in abundance while Dandenong Range forests came alive with water birds. Tribes would often gather at places such as Bolin Lagoon to celebrate an abundance of both shelter and sustenance.
The Wurundjeri people resided near the Yarra and called it Birrarung (meaning “river of mists”). Aquaculturists (using fish and duck as main foods), swidden agriculturists (fenceless herbivore grazing in which kangaroos played an active role), gardeners who cultivated yam roots and tuber lilies for starch production as well as hunter-gatherers using fire to manage grasslands for food and medicine production; gardeners who cultivated starch-rich tuber lilies to produce starch for starch production; gardeners who produced starch from starch-rich tuber lily roots which would later be used for starch production; hunters-gatherers who used fire to manage grasslands for food production as medicine and inter-Kulin business transactions – meeting regularly at Bolin Lake/billabong for ceremonies as well as inter-Kulin business deals conducted between villages or tribes that met at Bolin; often meeting at Bolin Lake/billabong in this region for ceremonies as well as inter-Kulin business transactions taking place here for ceremonies as well as inter-Kulin business transactions between their Lake/billabong for ceremonies as inter-Kulin business arrangements would often gather together at Bolin; this place called Bolin as they often met up here for ceremonies as well as gathering together at Bolin, the largest lake/billabong, where they could often meet for ceremonies as well.
William Thomas reports that this area was of great significance to both Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung clans and provided them with enough eels for one month annually, thus providing ample sustenance.
Prior to 1840s when Bolin billabong was sold off for farming, this area hosted an annual gathering of Wurundjeri. Members of Kulin Nation would camp near lakes/billabongs along its curves for ceremonies, inter-Kulin business transactions and social exchanges lasting up to five weeks at a time.
Bolin Lagoon Cultural Landscape Precinct, home to Heide MOMA, Banksia Park and Bulleen Art & Garden, stands as an island of indigenous bushland in suburban Melbourne. As one of Melbourne’s few floodplain habitats and urban wildlife corridors, it serves as a link for native birds and animals in its region.
Eltham Lower Park
The Yarra Valley is rich with Indigenous history and heritage, boasting numerous points of interest for visitors to explore. Explore Tarrawarra Museum of Art or travel back in time with Healesville Heritage Railway – for further exploration take a scenic drive through Yarra Ranges National Park for some hiking or wildlife spotting! Yarra Valley wineries also make great tourist destinations, providing tours, tastings, and dining experiences!
The City of Yarra sits upon the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people and their connection with this land can be traced back tens of thousands of years. Before European settlement, clans gathered here for ceremonies and inter-Kulin business; their sacred river Birrarung played an essential part of life and culture here as an entity guided by Bunjil – their ancient ancestral creator spirit whose characteristics it reflected.
Eltham Lower Park was home to a miniature railway, constructed in 1961 and relocated from Ivanhoe. Since its relocation, the park has become an idyllic venue for picnics and outdoor recreation, drawing in visitors year-round. Recently, council has invested in improving both its appearance and play equipment – recently unveiling a caterpillar-themed playground complete with sculptures, platforms, tunnels and Sweet Busaria bushes; children will delight in discovering all its activities! Plus it is fully fenced for your safety!
Walk along the Diamond Creek Trail for an enjoyable walk through Yarra River Park and over its new bridge spanning its waters. This well-kept pathway primarily comprises bitumen and gravel surfaces with plenty of rest spots or picnic sites along its path.
The track passes by several sporting ovals which were once used for cricket, football and lacrosse; these ovals now host various sporting clubs and community groups including the Yarra Valley Rugby Union and Pony Club. Eltham serves as an attractive gateway town for visitors to the Yarra Valley, featuring wineries and accommodations offering various options as well as being home to an historic wooden railway trestle bridge.