Learn the Aboriginal stories of Melbourne / Narrm
In a city as cosmopolitan and industrialised as Melbourne/Narrm, it may surprise you to learn that you don’t have to travel far to experience Aboriginal cultures.
Woven into the multicultural fabric of the city are insightful tours, workshops and exhibitions, promising a taste of Aboriginal history and cultures in a contemporary setting.
Koorie Heritage Trust, Melbourne, VIC © Visit Victoria
Start in Federation Square
In the heart of Melbourne/Narrm, the Koorie Heritage Trust in bustling Federation Square is dedicated to promoting and supporting the living cultures of south-east Australia’s First Nations peoples. Visit the centre to see the latest Indigenous art exhibition on display, the huge permanent exhibition of photography, oral history and artefacts, or, if time allows, embark on a one-hour guided River Camp/Birrarung Wilam Walk, taking in the iconic Yarra River that threads through Melbourne/Narrm and sites of cultural significance along the way.
Aboriginal Heritage Walk, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Melbourne/Narrm, VIC © Tourism Australia
Discover beauty and culture in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
In the green oasis that is the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne – said to be one of the world’s leading botanic gardens – you can tour the ancestral lands of the Eastern Kulin nation, led by an Aboriginal guide on the Aboriginal Heritage Walk. Beginning with a traditional smoking ceremony, you will deepen your understanding of Aboriginal customs by learning about traditional uses of plants for food, tools and medicine.
Aerial view of Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism © Tourism Australia
Connect with culture beyond the city limits
A great trip from Melbourne / Narrm is driving the legendary Great Ocean Road. And at its very western point you’ll find a World Heritage Site listed for its immense Aboriginal significance. The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape bears evidence of one of the world's oldest and most extensive aquaculture systems, dating back over 6,600 years. The Gunditjmara people ingeniously constructed an intricate network of channels, weirs and dams to capture and harvest kooyang (eels), showcasing their remarkable engineering prowess. From the Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre, visitors embark on cultural tours led by Gunditjmara guides, discovering ancient lava flows, fish traps, eel smoking trees and remnants of Aboriginal stone huts.
