68
5.5.1 Migrations to and from the Coast
Aboriginal people’s migration from the coast to inland was evident due to past marine transgressions
that have dramatically affected the landscape and Aboriginal settlement along Australian coastlines.
These coastlines have varied significantly as a result of the broader climatic and sea level changes
during the last glacial maximum and current sea levels (Marshall & McCulloch, 2012). The sea level
changed dramatically during the last glacial period from about 75,000 years ago, and was at its lowest
at the height of the last glacial maximum (LGM) at 18,000 years BP. The Bassian Plain linked the
mainland and Tasmania during this time and the coastline followed the continental shelf, which was
thousands of kilometres away (Marshall & MacCulloch, 2012, p. 69). As noted by Bird:
... about 18,000 years ago when the glaciers and ice sheets reached their maximum extent, the sea was 120 to 140
metres below its present level, and the continental shelves were exposed as wide coastal plains... The warming of the
climate and the diminution of the glaciers and ice sheets caused a rise in the sea level which continued until the midHolocene about 6000 years ago; an event known as the late Quaternary marine transgression (Bird, 1993, pp. 8-9).
These changes in coastlines directly influenced the migration of Aboriginal people, including the
peoples of the Kulin Nation. The migration of Aboriginal settlements inland due to rising seawaters
can be traced and mapped through the occurrence of midden sites and their locations (Marshall, 1997).
The Dreaming stories of the neighbouring Boon Wurrung people reflect knowledge of changing
sea levels and climatic events along the Victorian coastline as per the progressive changes indicated in
the records of Marshall & McCulloch (2012). This knowledge is represented in the following extract
of the account from Boon Wurrung Elder, Ms. Carolyn Briggs:
Many years ago this land that we now call Melbourne extended right out to the ocean. Port Phillip Bay was then
a large flat plain where Boon Wurrung hunted kangaroos and cultivated their yam daisy. But one day there came
a time of chaos and crises. The Boon Wurrung and the other Kulin nations were in conflict. They argued and
fought. They neglected their children. They neglected their land. The native yam was neglected. The animals
were killed but not always eaten. The fish were caught during their spawning season. As this chaos grew the sea
became angry and began to rise until it covered their plain and threatened to flood the whole of their country.
The people went to Bunjil, their creator and spiritual leader. They asked Bunjil to stop the sea from rising. Bunjil
told his people that they would have to change their ways if they wanted to save their land. The people thought
about what they had been doing and made a promise to follow Bunjil. Bunjil walked out to the sea, raised his
spear and directed the sea to stop rising. Bunjil then made the Boon Wurrung promise that they would respect the
laws (Briggs, cited in Low Choy & Jones, 2013, p. 183)
5.5.2 Wadawurrung Migrations
The Wadawurrung settlement patterns followed food sources, and clans occupied a specific range
over which they moved for gathering food, trading and fulfilling their social obligations. As indicated
by Aboriginal Elder Tandop David Tournier at the introduction of this section, movement of the clans
were very much connected to the seasons, and the food associated with these. Wadawurrung Country
was also a very important area that included places of gathering of various Aboriginal groups from the
Victoria region and beyond. Special gatherings and meetings occurred at special sites near the towns
now called Queenscliff and Geelong. Clans from the Yari Yari, Bangerang, Baraba Baraba, Wiradjuri,
as well as the other tribes of the Kulin Nation would have navigated with canoes along the rivers down
to Port Phillip Bay, crossing the Bay and eventually meeting for weeks at the special sites to settle
disputes, trade, arrange marriages, heal the sick and conclude with song and dance.
7
7 Information recorded about the settlement patterns, customs and social aspects of the Waduwurrung was done through
a workshop, one on one discussions and special site visits with accompanying late Aboriginal Elder Tandop David
Tournier from the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative in 2014.
5 Origins of Advanced Knowledge
5.5.1 Migrations to and from the Coast
Aboriginal people’s migration from the coast to inland was evident due to past marine transgressions
that have dramatically affected the landscape and Aboriginal settlement along Australian coastlines.
These coastlines have varied significantly as a result of the broader climatic and sea level changes
during the last glacial maximum and current sea levels (Marshall & McCulloch, 2012). The sea level
changed dramatically during the last glacial period from about 75,000 years ago, and was at its lowest
at the height of the last glacial maximum (LGM) at 18,000 years BP. The Bassian Plain linked the
mainland and Tasmania during this time and the coastline followed the continental shelf, which was
thousands of kilometres away (Marshall & MacCulloch, 2012, p. 69). As noted by Bird:
... about 18,000 years ago when the glaciers and ice sheets reached their maximum extent, the sea was 120 to 140
metres below its present level, and the continental shelves were exposed as wide coastal plains... The warming of the
climate and the diminution of the glaciers and ice sheets caused a rise in the sea level which continued until the midHolocene about 6000 years ago; an event known as the late Quaternary marine transgression (Bird, 1993, pp. 8-9).
These changes in coastlines directly influenced the migration of Aboriginal people, including the
peoples of the Kulin Nation. The migration of Aboriginal settlements inland due to rising seawaters
can be traced and mapped through the occurrence of midden sites and their locations (Marshall, 1997).
The Dreaming stories of the neighbouring Boon Wurrung people reflect knowledge of changing
sea levels and climatic events along the Victorian coastline as per the progressive changes indicated in
the records of Marshall & McCulloch (2012). This knowledge is represented in the following extract
of the account from Boon Wurrung Elder, Ms. Carolyn Briggs:
Many years ago this land that we now call Melbourne extended right out to the ocean. Port Phillip Bay was then
a large flat plain where Boon Wurrung hunted kangaroos and cultivated their yam daisy. But one day there came
a time of chaos and crises. The Boon Wurrung and the other Kulin nations were in conflict. They argued and
fought. They neglected their children. They neglected their land. The native yam was neglected. The animals
were killed but not always eaten. The fish were caught during their spawning season. As this chaos grew the sea
became angry and began to rise until it covered their plain and threatened to flood the whole of their country.
The people went to Bunjil, their creator and spiritual leader. They asked Bunjil to stop the sea from rising. Bunjil
told his people that they would have to change their ways if they wanted to save their land. The people thought
about what they had been doing and made a promise to follow Bunjil. Bunjil walked out to the sea, raised his
spear and directed the sea to stop rising. Bunjil then made the Boon Wurrung promise that they would respect the
laws (Briggs, cited in Low Choy & Jones, 2013, p. 183)
5.5.2 Wadawurrung Migrations
The Wadawurrung settlement patterns followed food sources, and clans occupied a specific range
over which they moved for gathering food, trading and fulfilling their social obligations. As indicated
by Aboriginal Elder Tandop David Tournier at the introduction of this section, movement of the clans
were very much connected to the seasons, and the food associated with these. Wadawurrung Country
was also a very important area that included places of gathering of various Aboriginal groups from the
Victoria region and beyond. Special gatherings and meetings occurred at special sites near the towns
now called Queenscliff and Geelong. Clans from the Yari Yari, Bangerang, Baraba Baraba, Wiradjuri,
as well as the other tribes of the Kulin Nation would have navigated with canoes along the rivers down
to Port Phillip Bay, crossing the Bay and eventually meeting for weeks at the special sites to settle
disputes, trade, arrange marriages, heal the sick and conclude with song and dance.
7
7 Information recorded about the settlement patterns, customs and social aspects of the Waduwurrung was done through
a workshop, one on one discussions and special site visits with accompanying late Aboriginal Elder Tandop David
Tournier from the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative in 2014.
5 Origins of Advanced Knowledge