Naarm

The Wurundjeri people The Wurundjeri people are the Traditional Owners of a large area of land in the central and eastern parts of what is now Greater Melbourne, extending north to the Great Dividing Range. They are Woiwurrung language speakers and one of the five nations of the Eastern Kulin alliance, which includes the Boon Wurrung, Wadawurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung peoples. Wurundjeri country encompasses the Yarra River (Birrarung), which holds deep spiritual and cultural significance. The Birrarung has sustained Wurundjeri people for tens of thousands of years, providing food, fresh water, and serving as a pathway connecting family groups across country. Significant sites along the river were used for ceremony, trade, and gathering. Today, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation leads the preservation and sharing of Wurundjeri culture. They are actively involved in land management, cultural education, language revitalisation, and the protection of sacred sites across their traditional lands.

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.