A brief history

Fact sheet

A brief history of the / Bunurong People The is located on all of their tools from stone and wood. the traditional lands of the Boon Wurrung With these tools they caught all of the / Bunurong people of the . food they needed. Life depended on the They are the Traditional Owners of the land seasonal availability of different plants that covers the coast from the Werribee and animals. The foreshores and creeks River in the north-west, down to Wilson’s provided ideal places to fish and hunt for Promontory in the south-east, taking in the seafood and salt water plants. The creeks catchments of the Old Carrum swamp, also provided drinking water, encouraged Kooweerup swamp (the great swamp), animals to the area and nourished other and Westernport Bay, and plants and trees, supplied ingredients including Mornington Peninsula, French for medicine and painting, materials for and Phillip Islands. clothing and implements for activities The Boon Wurrung / Bunurong people such as hunting and aids for carrying have lived in this area for over 40,000 babies. These were found locally or years. Before the great pyramids in traded with neighbouring tribes. Egypt had been built, the Boon Wurrung They had a great respect for the land and / Bunurong people were here. They all of the animals. The Boon Wurrung / lived as all people of the Kulin nation Bunurong people are still here, looking lived, sustainably on the land for tens after the land and their families. Today, of thousands of years. People ate local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people animals, plants, fish and shellfish. They from all over live within the shire used boats, or canoes to frequent boundaries. Recognising Aboriginal and nearby islands. These canoes were Torres Strait Islander people as Traditional made from bark and often were able Owners of the land is an important part to support a small fire in the middle for of showing respect for the indigenous warmth and cooking fish. peoples of Australia. They lived in small huts made from bark and wood from the trees. They made

Traditional Owner and Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) Bunurong Aboriginal Corporation Boon Wurrung Foundation [email protected] [email protected] (03) 9770 1273 (03) 9537 2222 bunuronglc.org boonwurrung.org

Mornington Peninsula Shire acknowledges and pays respect to the Boon Wurrung/Bunurong people, the traditional custodians of these lands and waters. Artwork by Shaydon Bloomfield