FFoorruumm rreeppoorrtt The Murtoa Mechanics Institute and its 1928 Willaura Railway Station Silos which Picture Theatre extension use the ‘Geelong’ model Thanks are extended to the following people for their contribution to the Forum. The various speakers Gail Harradine, Barengi Gadjin Land Council Chris Gallagher, Chair, Heritage Council of Victoria Peter Forbes, Department of Sustainability and Environment Ron Dodds, Greening Australia Dr Helen Doyle, Historian Heather Yates, Millewa Pioneer Forest and Historical Society Dr Simon Torok, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Peter Adler, Murtoa local Discussion group coordinators Neville Wale Dr Juliet Bird John Dwyer John Hawker Renée Gardiner Helen Martin Poster presentations Renee Gardiner and Lorinda Cramer, Chinese Settlement in the Wimmera Val Gregory, Murtoa & District Historical Society & Community Museum Heather Yates, Millewa Pioneer Forest and Historical Society Associate Professor Bernie Joyce, ‘A relict stand of original red dune Mallee vegetation’ Forum rapporteur Associate Professor Bernie Joyce Forum Planning Committee Helen Page Dr Timothy Hubbard Neville Wale Dr Juliet Bird John Hawker Forum Coordinator & report design Jane Andrews Sponsors Yarriambiack Shire Council Photographs Front cover: Timothy Hubbard Murtoa water tower/museum: Heritage Victoria All other images and graphs thanks to individual authors (otherwise specified) Contents THURSDAY 17 APRIL 2008 Horsham Regional Art Gallery...............................................................1 FRIDAY 18 APRIL 2008 Welcome to country............................................................................2 Chris Gallagher ..................................................................................4 Rapporteur’s report ............................................................................8 Program.......................................................................................... 11 SPEAKERS Peter Forbes .................................................................................... 12 Ron Dodds....................................................................................... 17 Dr Helen Doyle................................................................................. 21 Heather Yates .................................................................................. 26 Dr Simon Torok................................................................................ 28 Peter Adler ...................................................................................... 31 POSTER PRESENTERS Museum of Chinese-Australian History................................................. 34 Murtoa & District Historical Society & Community Museum ..................... 35 Millewa Pioneer Village, Meringur ........................................................ 37 A relict stand of original red dune Mallee vegetation .............................. 38 WORKSHOPS Workshop discussion summary ........................................................... 40 'Mud or dust' - the heritage of drought and water supply in the Wimmera/Mallee .................................................................................... 40 'Silos like deserted cathedrals' - the impact of railways on the Wimmera/Mallee landscape...................................................................... 42 'It's flat, dry and intriguing' - tourism, recreation and the cultural landscape of the Wimmera-Mallee............................................................. 43 'What are the flora and fauna telling us?' - management of the natural heritage values of the Wimmera/Mallee ..................................................... 45 'Something out of nothing' - rural heritage and the Mallee/Wimmera landscape.............................................................................................. 46 'What have we learnt?' - tools for interpreting and promoting the character and heritage of the Wimmera/Mallee landscape ............................ 47 DAY TOUR Field trip ......................................................................................... 49 APPENDICES Railways and the Wimmera region ...................................................... 57 Sites of geological and geomorphological significance ............................ 60 List of attendees............................................................................... 63 Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the Heritage Council of Victoria does not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Heritage Council of Victoria or the Victorian Government. © Heritage Council of Victoria, 2008. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1998. Copyright for all images and graphs is vested in the speaker (author) unless otherwise stated. Permission to use them should be sought from the speaker (author). Published by the Heritage Council of Victoria 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne 3002 July 2008 Also published on www.heritage.vic.gov.au ISBN 978-1-74208-327-8 (Print) ISBN 978-1-74208-328-5 (PDF) ISBN 978-1-74208-329-2 (CD-ROM) Heritage and the Land Forum, 18 April 2008 Heritage Council of Victoria www.heritage.vic.gov.au H H o o r r s s h Horsham Regional Art Gallery h a a Merle Hathaway – Director m m Adam Harding – Curator Thursday evening 17 April 2008 R R e The Heritage and the Land Forum commenced with an evening at the Horsham e Regional Art Gallery. Those who attended were privy to informative and g g enthusiastic talks by the director and curator who gave an insight into the i exhibits. i o o n Temporary exhibitions, downstairs: n a a Connection ~ Reflection (Handbury Gallery, Bill & Maureen Mann Gallery) l l 18 March – 18 May, 2008 A A Heather Burness, Aspinah Houspian, Rosemary Kingsmill, James McMurtrie live in r various parts of Australia and Europe but each has engaged in Wimmera-based r t projects. t G G Heather Burness from ACT allowed salt to etch her printmaking plates in the a Dimboola area. Arsineh Houspian, recently returned from Germany has a l photographed the people of Rainbow. Rosemary Kingsmill’s felts relate to the l l beleaguered Yarriambiack Creek near her house and James McMurtrie’s dramatic l e hot glass works reflect the nearby Grampians. e r r y y Photographic Gallery Jo Grant’s photographs of small town agricultural shows explore rural values that remain constant, as seen in simple rituals such as setting a table or preparing food. The Art of Pulling Strings Community Gallery Local & regional artists respond to the theme of this years Art is… festival. Permanent Collection, upstairs: Restrung (Mack Jost Galleries) Curator, Adam Harding, has completely re-hung the upstairs galleries. “Restrung” features aspects of the permanent collection in a way not seen here before, with artworks of all media forming visual essays and connections. In particular, a section exploring photographic depictions of Aboriginals by indigenous and early Australian photographers, and a new feature – The Wimmera Room – which is a chance to showcase work by artists who have worked in the region. Includes Sid Nolan, Marion Borgelt, Neil Douglas and Philip Hunter 1 W W e e l l c c o o Welcome to country m m Gail Harradine e e Cultural Heritage Manager t t 0 0 c c o o u u Consent Determination n n • Area A – Native Title Determination Area t t r r • Area B – Non-Native Title Core Area y y • ILUA Area – Non-Native Title Area • RAP – BGLC ILUA/Claim Area & ‘broader BGLC RAP boundary’ BGLC Role The primary role of the BGLC is to ensure that the responsibilities and duties, arising under Traditional Owner laws, customs and values, are carried out in relation to: • Caring for country, protecting and managing Cultural Heritage and ensuring the continuance and strengthening of law, language, culture and identity; • Representing, advocating and managing rights and interests concerning Cultural Heritage, Traditional Owner and Native Title Rights, and Indigenous Land Use Agreement matters; • Representing and advocating Traditional Owner interests concerning individual, family and community wellbeing; • Holding and managing traditional lands, waters and monies in trust for the benefit and enjoyment of all Traditional Owners, their families and future generations; • Administering native title rights and interests in their land and waters, in accordance with custom and tradition, for the benefit and enjoyment of all Traditional Owners, their families and future generations; • Acting as the Registered Aboriginal Party over traditional land and waters under the Aboriginal Heritage Act (Vic) 2006; and • Acting as the Prescribed Body Corporate and performing the functions of a registered native title body corporate as trustee for the holders of native title under the Native Title Act (Cth) 1993. Key Tasks • Internal and infrastructure set up; • Staffing structure; • Business & Strategic Planning; 2 Welcome to country • Agreement implementation; • New Representative Arrangements; • New CH Legislation; • Wimmera Mallee Pipeline Project; and • Cultural Heritage Program. Cultural heritage program BGLC Cultural Heritage Program objectives are to: