About The Wurundjeri People
The first people that occupied the Melbourne area prior to European
colonisation were the Woiwurrung language group, specifically the
Wurundjeri people.
The following is a list of the clans within the Wurundjeri area:
- Wurundjeri-balluk & Wurundjeri-willam (Yarra Valley
Yarra River catchment area to Heidelberg)
- Balluk-willam (south of the Yarra Valley extending down
to Dandenong, Cranbourne, Koo-wee-rup Swamp)
- Gunnung-willam-balluk (east of the Great Dividing Ranges
and north to Lancefield)
- Kurung-jang-balluk (Werribee River to Sunbury)
- Marin-balluk (Boi-berrit) (land west of the Maribyrnong
River and Sunbury)
- Kurnaje-berreing (the land between the Maribyrnong and
Yarra Rivers)
Boundaries
The territory of the Wurundjeri lies within the inner city of Melbourne
and extends north of the Great Dividing Ranges, east to Mt Baw Baw,
south to Mordialloc Creek and west to Werribee River.
Language / terminology
Some key terms of Woiwurrung language (and their English equivalent)
are noted here:
- Bulluk / balluk - swamp
- Nira - cave
- Willam / wilam / Illam / yilam - hut, camp, bark
- Gunung / Gunnung - river
Totems
The two moeity totems of the Wurundjeri people are Bunjil
the Eaglehawk and Waang the Crow.
Places of Significance
The Wurundjeri are the traditional owners of a large part of the
land of inner and outer Melbourne.
The Yarra River was central to the Wurundjeri people as it provided
a variety of foods such as eels and fish. Along its fertile banks
the numerous variety of native animals and plants would be found.
There are a number of identified significant sites, in particular
those found near the Yarra & Maribyrnong Rivers and the Merri
Creek. A place of great gathering occurred at the Bolin Bolin Billabong
in Bulleen where sacred and social interaction between the clans would
take place. The Wurundjeri would also gather with other members of
the Kulin Nation on the land where the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MGC)
now stands. Other places of significance for the Wurundjeri people
are:
- Coranderrk Mission Station (Healesville)
- Pound Bend (Templestowe / Doncaster)
- Mt William Aboriginal Stone Axe Quarry
- Dights Falls area (Collingwood)
- Heide Scarred Tree (Templestowe)
- The Sunbury Rings (Sunbury)
Featuring prominently in Wurundjeri story is William
Barak, the last traditional great Ngurungaeta or leader
of the clan, who witnessed the signing of the 'treaty' between Woiwurrung
and Boonerwrung Elders and John Batman. The Ngurungaeta of
the Wurundjeri clan at that time was his father Bebejern, from whom
Barak inherited the title.
For further information
about William Barak go to the National Gallery of Victoria
Further information...
To learn more about the Woiwurrung and, in particular, the Wurundjeri
people, contact:
Oonah Learning Centre
Badger Creek Road
Healesville Vic.
3777
Tel: 5962 3039
Kulin Nation Cultural
Heritage Organisation
Suite 1, 241
Thomas Street
Dandenong Vic.
3175
Tel: 9793 5922/9793
1735
Fax: 9793 2800
A Wurundjeri Story
Professor Joy Murphy-Wandin, an Elder of the Wurundjeri,
tells the story of the Wurundjeri people
