Appendix E: Indigenous Heritage Red Gums, are generally located on the basalt plain above The Plenty Valley is part of the territory of the Wurundjeri-willam, a clan of the Woiwurung language the break of slope. group. Published and unpublished accounts of early The scatters of stone artefacts indicate the presence of European settlers provide some insight into the economy, old campsites. All the big campsites found in the park settlement patterns and culture of the Aboriginal people were closely associated with the gorge, with the highest in the area. density above, but close to the break of slope. It is likely that the local Wurundjeri people lived according to a seasonal economy, moving to higher country during Implications for the Master Plan the winter months to avoid flooded river flats. Spring, and summer would have seen a return to the floodplains and • Opportunity for Wurundjeri to express their swamp lands. connection to Country and share their knowledge and stories, as key players in interpretation, Plenty Gorge would have been significant to indigenous education and event opportunities on site. communities as ‘a resource-rich environment at the • Clarifying the appropriateness of interpreting interface of the open woodland of the basaltic plain indigenous cultural heritage, in engagement with the to the west, and the forested undulating sedimentary Wurundjeri. terrain of the eastern side. The Plenty River and its gorge • Opportunity for Wurundjeri to be involved in ongoing would also have been the source of raw materials, food park planning and management to ensure protection and perennial fresh water’(Ellender 1991). of natural and cultural assets. • Support for ongoing investigations to identify Plenty Gorge Park contains evidence of early human additional sites within the park. occupation of the region in many sites along the river and • Recognising that all of Plenty Gorge Park has cultural the gorge. There is evidence of Aboriginal activity in the sensitivity, the Office of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria area including scar trees and stone artefacts, indicating (OAAV) principles should therefore be applied the presence of camp sites in a significant, resource rich when considering all future detailed design and or environment cared for by the Wurunderi people. implementation works. Culturally scarred trees, found mostly on large, old River
Appendix E: Indigenous Heritage The Plenty Valley is part of the territory of the Wurundjeri-willam, a clan of the Woiwurung language group. Published and unpublished accounts of early European settlers provide some insight into the economy, settlement patterns and culture of the Aboriginal people in the area. It is likely that the local Wurundjeri people lived according to a seasonal economy, moving to higher country during the winter months to avoid flooded river flats. Spring, and summer would have seen a return to the floodplains and swamp lands. Plenty Gorge would have been significant to indigenous communities as ‘a resource-rich environment at the interface of the open woodland of the basaltic plain to the west, and the forested undulating sedimentary terrain of the eastern side. The Plenty River and its gorge would also have been the source of raw materials, food and perennial fresh water’(Ellender 1991). Plenty Gorge Park contains evidence of early human occupation of the region in many sites along the river and the gorge. There is evidence of Aboriginal activity in the area including scar trees and stone artefacts, indicating the presence of camp sites in a significant, resource rich environment cared for by the Wurunderi people. Culturally scarred trees, found mostly on large, old River Red Gums, are generally located on the basalt plain above the break of slope. The scatters of stone artefacts indicate the presence of old campsites. All the big campsites found in the park were closely associated with the gorge, with the highest density above, but close to the break of slope. Implications for the Master Plan • Opportunity for Wurundjeri to express their connection to Country and share their knowledge and stories, as key players in interpretation, education and event opportunities on site. • Clarifying the appropriateness of interpreting indigenous cultural heritage, in engagement with the Wurundjeri. • Opportunity for Wurundjeri to be involved in ongoing park planning and management to ensure protection of natural and cultural assets. • Support for ongoing investigations to identify additional sites within the park. • Recognising that all of Plenty Gorge Park has cultural sensitivity, the Office of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (OAAV) principles should therefore be applied when considering all future detailed design and or implementation works.
PGPark_Draft_MP-WORD_LR.docx