Melbourne and surrounds

Then
Bunjil, the spiritual creator, taking the form of a wedge-tail eagle, gave life to the first people, the rivers, the mountains, the animals and trees – all living and natural things in the Kulin Nation.

Now
Today, the Kulin Nation continues to live, practise and strengthen its customs in urban Melbourne and nearby regions. You’ll discover lifestyles brimming with stories, beliefs and traditions upheld by the local people.

Melbourne
Melbourne has a strong and close-knit Aboriginal community. Visit the Koorie Heritage Trust and the multi-award-winning Bunjilaka at the Melbourne Museum. Take a different look at the Royal Botanic Gardens with an Aboriginal guide and taste bush foods, prepared with a modern influence, at Tjanabi restaurant. Or, for a truly Melbourne experience, don’t miss an Australian Rules football match and cheer our great Aboriginal athletes. Whether it’s in cosmopolitan Melbourne or rural Victoria, there’s a wealth of stories and a lifetime of memories waiting to be discovered.

Surrounds
Just a short distance from Melbourne CBD you'll find the Burrinja Gallery in the Dandenong Ranges. Travel further to Wathaurang country and visit the cultural centres Kirrit Barreet at Ballarat and Narana Creations at Geelong. Further afield the Barmah State Park and Barmah State Forest are on the Murray River flood plain between Echuca and Tocumwal, about 225 km north of Melbourne. Part of the world's largest River Red Gum forest, the area has a rich and continuing Indigenous heritage. Descendants of the original people still live in this area, share their heritage and manage the natural environment.