3 the Buchan Caves Reserve by Ian D. Clark
3 The Buchan Caves Reserve by Ian D. Clark The Buchan Caves Reserve is some 360km east of Melbourne, near the township of Buchan. The Reserve is jointly managed by Parks Victoria and the Gunaikurnai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation. It contains a visitor centre and facilities for over- night camping and day visitors. Within the reserve lies a honeycomb of caves with limestone formations – but there are only two show caves, Royal Cave (see Fig.3.1) and Fairy Cave (see Fig.3.2), and guided tours are conducted year round. The Buchan Caves Reserve falls within the Krauatungalung language area (Clark, 1998a: 189-190). This language or dialect, is one of five normally referred to as the ‘Ganai nation’ or ‘Kurnai nation’, a cluster of dialects sharing linguistic, social, cultural, political, and family associations. 3.1 First Phase: Sight Sacralization and Naming 1838–1907 In terms of MacCannell’s (1976) first phase in the development of attractions as ‘sight sacralization’ or ‘naming’, the name Buchan Caves is derived from the place name Buchan which is found in the pastoral run name, the creek name, and the town- ship name. The show caves within the Buchan Caves Reserve complex have their own names, which will be discussed in the next section. Within the ethno-historical records and general literature on Buchan, several meanings and derivations are given for the name ‘Buchan’. George Augustus Robinson, the Chief Protector for Aborigi- nes, for example, spelt Buchan several ways: Buckun (Jnl 3/6/1844 in Clark, 1998b); Buckin (Jnl 17/6/1844 in Clark, 1998b); Bucking (Jnl 21/6/1844 in Clark, 1998b); Buckan (Jnl 4/7/1844 in Clark, 1998b); and Bucken (Jnl 5/7/1844 in Clark, 1998b).
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