Indigenous Heritage
Melbourne’s rivers and creeks are important to all members of the community, particularly Aboriginal people.
Indigenous heritage includes all places that were occupied by Aboriginal communities in the past and those that are part of Aboriginal peoples' spiritual links to the land or which tell the story of Indigenous peoples throughout history, including:
- sacred sites
- ceremonial sites
- fish traps
- burials
- scarred trees
- camp sites
- settlements.
They continue to be places of spiritual and community activity today.
In our role as waterway manager within the Port Phillip and Westernport catchments, we are committed to protecting these important natural and cultural values that are so significant to all communities.
To the Aboriginal people of the Kulin Nation, the Yarra River was a life source that had been etched into the landscape by the ancestral creator spirit Bunjil – the wedge-tailed eagle. They called the river Birrarung – “Place of mists and shadows” and it was the dreaming path they followed and camped beside through the calendar of countless seasons.
How do we work with our Aboriginal partners?
We work closely with the Traditional Owners of the land on which we operate to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage as a key part of overall river health.
What is a Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP)?
The Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 recognises Aboriginal people as Traditional Owners.
The Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs) are the representatives of the Traditional Owners of the land who assist in the management and protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage on behalf of all Victorians.
RAPs have responsibilities relating to the management of Aboriginal cultural heritage under the Act. These include evaluating Cultural Heritage Management Plans and providing advice about the management of cultural material.
