Aboriginal Melbourne walk

The Eastern Kulin is an alliance of 5 Traditional Owner groups: the Wurundjeri, Bunurong, Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wadawurrung peoples. Eastern Kulin Country extends around Port Phillip and Western Port, up to the Great Dividing Range and through the Loddon and Goulburn River valleys. The groups are spiritually, culturally, politically and economically connected with a shared creator, Bunjil.

Bronze statue of Pastor Sir Douglas and Lady Gladys Nicholls Memorial surrounded by trees.

1. Pastor Sir Douglas and Lady Gladys Nicholls Memorial

This monument in Parliament Gardens honours two prominent Indigenous leaders and traditional owners.

Pastor Sir Doug Nichols and his wife Lady Gladys, dedicated their lives to community service. Their great-granddaughter Ngarra Murray etched totems into the blue stone paving here signifying the emu – Bigarrumdja (Yorta Yorta) – and the Crow – Waa (Boon Wurrung/Woi Wurrung).

2. Paving inlay

This granite and brass paving inlay at Parliament House uses a circa 1880 painting by William Barak.

The artwork called 'Ceremony' references the site as a traditional ceremonial ground and meeting place for the people of the Kulin Nation.

Two people walking through the doors to the Ian Potter Centre at the NGV.

3. Ian Potter Centre: NGV

A showcase for Indigenous art from the NGV collection.

Includes pieces from renowned artists including Emily Kam Kngwarray and Rover Thomas, alongside contemporary works by Brook Andrew and Destiny Deacon.

Three people looking at Indigenous artefacts on a table at the Koorie Heritage Trust.

4. Koorie Heritage Trust

A First Nations arts and cultural organisation with a program of events, exhibitions, tours.

Join workshops, educational and walking tours, or participate in Indigenous cross-cultural awareness training. There is also a shop for design pieces by Indigenous makers and creatives.

Outdoor Aboriginal art installation at Birrarung Marr park.

5. Birrarung Marr

This popular park next to Federation Square is a meeting place for community and celebrations.

In the Woi Wurrung language of the Wurundjeri people, birrarung means ‘river of mists’ and ‘marr’ relates to the edge.

Discover more about Birrarung Marr

A man and woman observing the Birrarung Wilam sculptures.

6. Birrarung Wilam

An engaging sculpture and audio installation in Birrarung Marr.

This installation celebrates the cultural and spiritual connections between Aboriginal people and rivers.

7. Eel Trap sculpture

The Eel Trap sculpture is a reminder that eels were once an abundant food source close to this site.

Made from weaving basket grass, eel traps were set near the shallow waterfalls that used to exist downstream, separating the freshwater of the river from the salty water of the bay.

8. Speakers Corner

A sculpture and commemorative plaque marks the site.

Communities gathered here between the 1890s to the 1960s for regular forums and debates with renowned Aboriginal thinkers and activists like Bill Onus and Gary Foley.

9. Yarra Park and MCG

A traditional gathering place for the Eastern Kulin.

Scarred, or culturally modified, trees can still be found in Yarra Park. Football games at the MCG are a tangible connection for the Eastern Kulin to this area. They played marngrook here, an early version of football, elements of which still feature in Australian Rules Football today.

Additional Places

Woman looking at artwork in the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre at the Melbourne Museum.

Bunjilaka (Melbourne Museum)

Bunjilaka celebrates thousands of years of continuous culture through multimedia experiences and artworks, alongside garden trail and Forest gallery of indigenous plants and wildlife.

Standing by Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner, by Brook Andrew and Trent Walter.

Standing by Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner (Gallows Hill)

This artwork commemorates two Aboriginal men who were publicly hanged in Melbourne in 1842.

Kings Domain Resting Place

A monument marking the remains of Aboriginal people repatriated from the Museum of Victoria.

People sitting on the grass in the Botanic Gardens.

Tromgin Billabong (now site of ornamental lake) Royal Botanic Gardens

Tromgin Billabong, once part of an extensive integrated river and billabong system, survives as part of the ornamental lake in the Botanic Gardens. A traditional fishing spot, eels were a plentiful food source for Eastern Kulin people.

Learn more

To further explore places of Aboriginal significance within the city, visit the aboriginal-map.melbourne.vic.gov.au. You can also check out our Aboriginal Melbourne page.

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