Boon Wurrung

The Boon Wurrung people The Boon Wurrung people are the Traditional Owners of the coastal lands stretching from the Werribee River along the shores of Port Phillip Bay, the Mornington Peninsula, Western Port, and east to Wilsons Promontory. They are one of the five nations of the Eastern Kulin alliance and speak the Boon Wurrung language, closely related to Woiwurrung. As saltwater people, the Boon Wurrung have maintained a deep connection to the coast and marine environments for tens of thousands of years. Their country includes significant coastal features, wetlands, and waterways that provided abundant food sources including fish, shellfish, eels, and water birds. The area around what is now the southern suburbs of Melbourne and the bay was a rich meeting ground. The Boon Wurrung Foundation and Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation work to protect cultural heritage, maintain connection to country, and share Boon Wurrung culture through education and community programs. They continue to advocate for the recognition of their rights and the preservation of significant cultural sites across their traditional lands.