Melbourne’s North. Wurundjeri lands. The traditional owners, the extended family of the Wurundjeri-william clan, called this place home. They lived near and around the banks of the Merri Creek–a creek which bears its original name to this day, “Merri Merri”–meaning “very rocky.”
Today the area looks very different. Suburbs hug the bends in the creek, brick bridges cross over it, and cyclists and walkers follow its meandering path on their way across town. The water still there, the dusky moorhens kick along in the current, the stalwart rocks where water skinks rest, the gums trees that overhang, are still there. What are we looking at and what is the significance of this place?
Merri Creek Interpretive Signs
Take a walk along the Coburg and Fawkner sections of the Merri and you might notice a series of signs. Developed with local community and the Wurundjeri Tribe Land and Compensation Cultural Heritage Council Incorporation, the signs are and are aimed at restoring and improving understanding of Wurundjeri connection to country. Visitors are encouraged to look out for the symbols of traditional life, including tree carving, rock painting and traditional ceremony.
There are five signs in total. Three signs describe how Wurundjeri Elders look after the land describe the significance of scar trees of Murrnong as food source. This can be found at the intersection of Gaffney Street and the Merri Creek in Coburg. Two other signs describe the significance of native grasslands and cultural burning at Bababi Djinanang (formerly the Jukes Road grasslands) in Fawkner.
But the Merri Creek isn’t the only place in Melbourne’s North to find information on Wurundjeri life and connect with places of Aboriginal Australian significance. Below is a range of other places in the northern suburbs you might find yourself curious to spot on a stroll through town.
Bush Reserve Coburg
A sign here describes the role of William Thomas, Assistant Protector and Guardian of Aboriginal, in his dedication to the welfare of Aboriginal people in the 1800s. Can be found at 227 Bell Street Coburg.
Brunswick and Coburg Town Halls
Bronze signs on the front entrance of both Brunswick and Coburg Town Halls acknowledge the Wurundjeri as Traditional Owners of the land. Accompanying artwork is by Mandy Nicholson. Brunswick Town Hall is at the Corner of Sydney Road & Dawson Street, Coburg Town Hall is at 90 Bell Street Coburg.
Kent Morris Artwork
South of Moreland Road along the newly paved bike path is an artwork called Cultural Reflections – Community Intersections. Part of the new activity zone where the old level-crossing used to be, the artwork depicts patterns representing interconnecting kinship and an oval symbol representing a canoe signifies travel and trade. The artwork be found south of the intersection of Moreland Road and the Upfield Bike Path.
Blak Dot Gallery
A contemporary Indigenous-run art gallery & performance space showcasing the artworks from global indigenous cultures. They often run workshops, exhibitions and volunteering opportunities. 33 Saxon Street Brunswick VIC, enter via Dawson Street.
Unsettling Portal
A large scale mural from the artist TextaQueen, commissioned by the council as part of the RenuWall program. The mural is full of bold colours depicting native flora and fauna native to the area before the arrival of settlers. Can be found at the corner of Manalack Street and Railway place, just off Union Road in Brunswick.
If you happen to visit any of the places mentioned or know of any other culturally significant places in Melbourne’s north, share it in the comments below.
Thanks to the Wurundjeri Elders for their consultation and suggestions. The Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation are the traditional owners of the land to which the places in this article make reference. For further reading, see resources used for this article.
Resources:
https://resources.reglii.com/VGG.2013.5.30.G22.pdfhttps://fawkner.org/2013/05/31/moreland-council-confirms-new-name-for-grasslands-at-jukes-rd-as-bababi-djinanan
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/thomas-william-2727
Merri Creek Management Committee (mcmc.org.au)
Become a partner – Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation
Creek Life: Flora and Fauna of the Merri Creek Valley Published by Merri Creek Management Committee 1995