Ancient Australia Victoria, like the rest of Australia, is home to many different groups of Aboriginal peoples who have their own language, culture and history. To gain a deeper understanding of the way people lived in ancient Australia, this chapter will focus on the people and culture of the Kulin nation. The Kulin nation is made up of five different language groups. These groups were the custodians, or caretakers, of a large part of central and southern Victoria, including cities and towns such as Geelong, Bendigo, Melbourne, Healesville and Moe. Using techniques developed over thousands of years, the Kulin people carefully managed the land, which was their source for food, shelter, clothing and Dreaming stories. chapter Source 1 Figures in possum skin cloaks by William Barak, of the Wurundjeri people in Victoria, was painted in the late 1890s. It shows pairs of Elders wearing patterned cloaks. 8 8A 8B DRAFT How did geographical features What was traditional life like for the Please note: influence life in the Kulin nation? people of the Kulin nation? Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this chapter (and the resources that 1 The Kulin people lived according to the climate and 1 Over thousands of years, the Kulin people developed support it) may contain the names, images, stories natural features of the area they belonged to. Think about rich spiritual and cultural traditions that helped to shape and voices of people who have died. where you live and imagine that there are no buildings, their daily lives. Birth, adolescence and death were transport or technology there. Suggest several aspects all marked by special rites and ceremonies. Give two of your life that would be influenced by your natural examples of rites of passage from your own culture or environment. religion. 238 oxford big ideas humanities 7 victorian curriculum chapter 8 ancient Australia 239 8A How did geographical features infl uence life in the Kulin nation? Ancient Australia: a timeline 8.1 Rock art at Narwala The Landing of Gabarnmung Captain Cook at Designer Note: Insert Botany Bay, by c. 26 000 Artwork: N0802D_07325 William MacLeod, Rock art found 1899 at Narwala Gabarnmung in the Northern Territory is c. 14 000 believed to date Kutikina Cave was occupied by Ice caps begin from this period. Tasmanian Aboriginal people at the to melt and 1770 height of the last ice age. sea levels rise . Lieutenant James Cook sails along the 1835 The Torres Strait east coast of Australia and claims the John Batman c. 60 000 c. 29 000 c. 18 000 continent for Britain. He acknowledges signs a treaty The earliest date Evidence exists of An ice age makes large parts of c. 6000 the presence of the Indigenous people with the Kulin historians have humans living in the Australia too cold to inhabit. People The area between Northern Australia but fails to recognise their ownership. nation to ‘buy’ found evidence of area now known as live along the eastern coast of Australia and New Guinea is fl ooded, creating their land. humans in Australia. Keilor, Victoria. and Tasmania during this time. the Torres Strait Islands. 60 000 1850 BCE c. 30 000 c. 20 000 c. 10 000 1500 CE c. 38 000 c. 28 000 c. 11 000 c. 4000–7000 c. 400 Clear evidence Axe heads, tools and Tasmania is cut off The fl ooding of Port Tools made of bone 1606 exists of humans other artefacts found from the mainland Phillip Bay, originally found in the Otway Dutch and Spanish living in Australia at the Tower Hill site by rising sea levels. Kulin nation land Ranges, Victoria, explorers explore (Lake Mungo) near Warrnambool suggest Aboriginal the Torres Strait and around this time. indicate Indigenous people were are believed to be presence in the area working with animal the fi rst Europeans from this time. skins. to have contact with Indigenous Australians. Mungo Man Tower Hill near Warrnambool remains. Check your learning 8.1 Source 1 A timeline of key events in ancient Australia Remember and understand Evaluate and create Reference guide DRAFT 1 How long do historians believe there have been 5 Examine the painting of Captain Cook’s landing at Nation A term for a group of Aboriginal peoples. A nation can be made people living in Australia? Botany Bay. This work was created in 1899 by a up of a single culture or language group, or many cultures and language groups. For example, the Kulin nation is an alliance of 2 When was Tasmania cut off from the mainland? European painter who did not know much about fi ve language groups located in southern and central Victoria. 3 What impact did the last ice age have on where Aboriginal culture. Language group A term for a group of Aboriginal peoples who share the same people lived in Australia? a What does the painting show? language. This can include smaller groups or clans who do not live b How realistic do you think it is? Explain your together but speak the same language. Analyse and apply answer. Woiworung A language, or the name of the language group, in central to eastern Victoria. The Woiworung were part of the Kulin nation. 4 Do you think cultures became different when Wurundjeri The group of peoples that speak Woiworung. They are made up Tasmania or the Torres Strait Islands were cut off of smaller groups or clans who mostly lived separately but who from the mainland? Why? shared many customs and socialised together. 240 oxford big ideas humanities 7 victorian curriculum curriculum chapter 8 ancient Australia 241 8A How did geographical features infl uence life in the Kulin nation? VICTORIA LANGUAGE GROUPS AND NATIONS Mildura Ladjiladji Dadi Dadi The environment and LEGEND 8.2 Jarijari Wergaia Aboriginal language group Wadiwadi Major town Ngargad climate of the Kulin nation State capital Wembawemba Wergaia The people of the Kulin nation have KULIN NATION LANGUAGE GROUPS been living in Victoria for at least 40 000 Djadjawurung Baraba Yorta Yorta Wodonga years. They are made up of an alliance Baraba Shepparton Waveroo of fi ve language groups: Wathaurong, Bendigo Nguraiilam Jaitmatang Djadjawurung, Taungurong, Woiworung Dja Dja wurrung Bendigo wurrung Jardwadjali (Jaara) Maryborough and Boonwurrung. Djab Ngarigo wurrung Taungurong Bindjali Daung wurrung Watha wurrung Bidwell Geography and Woi wurrung Waveroo Ballarat (Wurundjeri) Gunai Ballarat Sunbury Dhauwurd Buandig Melbourne (Kurnai) environment Melton wurrung Girai Coranderrk (Gunditjmara) wurrung Gulidjan Bun Wathaurong Melbourne Djargurd wurrung The Kulin nation covered a large part of wurrung Geelong Woiworung central and southern and central Victoria. Warrnambool Gadubanud Many of us will be familiar with the Port Phillip 0 100 200 m mountains, rivers, beaches, grasslands Geelong Boonwurrung and forests on the lands of the Kulin Moe Source 3 Source: Oxford University Press nation. The Indigenous Australians who lived Bass Strait VICTORIA: CLIMATE ZONES around Melbourne were the Wurundjeri people from the Woiworung language LEGEND group. The Wurundjeri people’s diet, Taungurong Kulin nation language group Major town shelter, clothing and customs developed State capital as a result of their understanding of the 0 50 100 m land and the climate of the area. Source 1 Source: Oxford University Press Up to 20 000 years ago, Port Phillip Bay was above sea level and the Yarra VICTORIA: ENVIRONMENTS River fl owed across this space. The fl at, LEGEND fertile river plain was fi lled with animals Desert State border Over 1 000 000 people Grassland River 100 000 to 500 000 people Shrubland Lake 25 000 to 100 000 people and plants. Rising sea levels around 6000 Forest Mt Kosciuszko Mountain Designer Note: Insert Artwork: N0811_07325 2228 m Mountains Cropland to 10 000 years ago caused the plain to Sea floor relief fl ood and become Port Phillip Bay. This changed the lifestyle of the Woiworung DRAFT and Boonwurrung groups who lived in this area. Source 4 Source: Oxford University Press Source 2 Source: Oxford University Press 242 oxford big ideas humanities 7 victorian curriculum chapter 8 ancient Australia 243 8A How did geographical features infl uence life in the Kulin nation? and kept warm with rugs or cloaks made of possum Seasons skins. In the hottest months, they could camp on the The Wurundjeri people identifi ed up to seven seasons coast, taking advantage of abundant supplies of fi sh in their territory. These seasons were marked by and other seafood. changes in the weather, life cycles of plants and The types of foods they could eat would depend animals, and the position of stars in the night sky. on the season. Nectar-rich banksia fl owers, starchy The Wurundjeri had to survive dry heat and root plants and mistletoe berries were all foods that hot north winds in summer, and cold frosts and became available after the fi rst rains following the occasional fl oods in winter. Because the weather hot, dry season. As the land warmed after the coldest could reach such extremes, the Wurundjeri lived months, there were plenty of animals to hunt, plenty in different areas throughout the year. Some would of root vegetables to dig up, and many different types spend the coldest months in areas such as the of berries and seeds to collect. Dandenong Ranges, where they sheltered in caves Source 7 Members of the Wurundjeri, a group of the Kulin nation, wearing traditional possum-skin cloaks er J emb anua Check your learning 8.2 Dec ry le o-app garo an son K sea B r id e Dr er F b y s ap e Remember and understand m e b e as ru v u o a o rr on • Unpredicable warm n r N u s weather, often with y g ea th s thunder.