69
There were several semi-permanent settlement nodes within Wadawurrung Country, especially
where food sources were available, trade could happen between tribes, and special places for ceremonies. People would go back to these nodes every second or third year, following the seasons in a cycle.
The many layers of middens on top of each other at these sites indicate that people were there for a
very long time, for thousands of years coming back and using the same place. More permanent campsites were established inland in areas such as the You Yangs.
8
These structures were made of stone and
mud, with sticks on top woven together, closed with bark and mud on top. The mud roofs allowed for
planting of herbs and plants to provide food, such as the Bower Spinach (Tetragonia implexicoma).
On the coast, the shelters were not permanent, and small campsites included shelters made of bark,
sticks, and in many cases just a placement in a half circle of brushes from the close by bush and
shrubs, to protect against the wind. Movement of the people along the coast happened during summer
months, and because it was warm with very little rain, it was not necessary to build shelters.
Main settlement nodes and coastal migration followed the seasons and food sources (bush tucker)
and included the following as indicated in Table 5.2:
5.6 Patterns of Nature and Wadawurrung Settlements
By all accounts it is evident that the Wadawurrung moved across Country in specific patterns and
settled with the changes according to the cycles of nature. Their seasonal cycles and calendar included
various changes that signalled the construction of temporary and semi-permanent shelters, the management of the landscape through fire, the harvesting of plant roots, and migration along coastal areas
and inland according to the patterns of the seasonal cycles. Figure 5.5 indicates the potential migration of the Wadawurrung across Wadawurrung Country, following the seasons in a cultural landscape.
Following a description of the seasons, the six-season cycle calendar offers a possible insight into
Wadawurrung migration patterns across Country and can be described as follows
9
(Tournier, personal
communication, 2014).
• Early and Mid-Summer (November, December, January)
The Black Wattle tree and Swamp Paperbark flower in late November, and it is a sign for the beginning of the dry season, setting up camps around reliable water sources at creeks, rivers and billabongs. Due to the dry season, water bodies attract wildlife and Kangaroos, Emus, Wombats and
Possums that come to drink and are caught. Grasses flower, fruits ripen, and manna is collected
from the Coast Manna- gum trees. Fish move up the rivers, and fish traps are used. During this time
of abundance, large gatherings of the clans and tribes take place. With permission from the Elders
of the coastal clans, people move down to the sea and coastal wetlands and river mouths to gather
shellfish, to catch Flatheads fish and Black fish. As the male eels start to move down the rivers to
the sea, it signals the start of the next season - Late Summer.
• Late Summer (February to March)
The early autumn rains arrive and the days become cooler. Various parts of the land are densely
grown with scrub and grass, and by planned and carefully managed burning, areas are cleared to
8 The You Yangs are a series of granite ridges that stretch for about 24 kilometres and rise to 364 m high at the Flinders
Peak. Much of the ranges are protected and located in the You Yangs Regional Park (Parks Victoria, 2014).
9 The Wadawurrung six-season cycle descriptions are combinations adopted from the Boon Wurrung seasons (Gott,
2011), and the Gunditjmara seasons (Jones, 2010), as well as information provided during the discussions directly with
the late Aboriginal Elder Tandop David Tournier in 2014.
5.6 Patterns of Nature and Wadawurrung Settlements
There were several semi-permanent settlement nodes within Wadawurrung Country, especially
where food sources were available, trade could happen between tribes, and special places for ceremonies. People would go back to these nodes every second or third year, following the seasons in a cycle.
The many layers of middens on top of each other at these sites indicate that people were there for a
very long time, for thousands of years coming back and using the same place. More permanent campsites were established inland in areas such as the You Yangs.
8
These structures were made of stone and
mud, with sticks on top woven together, closed with bark and mud on top. The mud roofs allowed for
planting of herbs and plants to provide food, such as the Bower Spinach (Tetragonia implexicoma).
On the coast, the shelters were not permanent, and small campsites included shelters made of bark,
sticks, and in many cases just a placement in a half circle of brushes from the close by bush and
shrubs, to protect against the wind. Movement of the people along the coast happened during summer
months, and because it was warm with very little rain, it was not necessary to build shelters.
Main settlement nodes and coastal migration followed the seasons and food sources (bush tucker)
and included the following as indicated in Table 5.2:
5.6 Patterns of Nature and Wadawurrung Settlements
By all accounts it is evident that the Wadawurrung moved across Country in specific patterns and
settled with the changes according to the cycles of nature. Their seasonal cycles and calendar included
various changes that signalled the construction of temporary and semi-permanent shelters, the management of the landscape through fire, the harvesting of plant roots, and migration along coastal areas
and inland according to the patterns of the seasonal cycles. Figure 5.5 indicates the potential migration of the Wadawurrung across Wadawurrung Country, following the seasons in a cultural landscape.
Following a description of the seasons, the six-season cycle calendar offers a possible insight into
Wadawurrung migration patterns across Country and can be described as follows
9
(Tournier, personal
communication, 2014).
• Early and Mid-Summer (November, December, January)
The Black Wattle tree and Swamp Paperbark flower in late November, and it is a sign for the beginning of the dry season, setting up camps around reliable water sources at creeks, rivers and billabongs. Due to the dry season, water bodies attract wildlife and Kangaroos, Emus, Wombats and
Possums that come to drink and are caught. Grasses flower, fruits ripen, and manna is collected
from the Coast Manna- gum trees. Fish move up the rivers, and fish traps are used. During this time
of abundance, large gatherings of the clans and tribes take place. With permission from the Elders
of the coastal clans, people move down to the sea and coastal wetlands and river mouths to gather
shellfish, to catch Flatheads fish and Black fish. As the male eels start to move down the rivers to
the sea, it signals the start of the next season - Late Summer.
• Late Summer (February to March)
The early autumn rains arrive and the days become cooler. Various parts of the land are densely
grown with scrub and grass, and by planned and carefully managed burning, areas are cleared to
8 The You Yangs are a series of granite ridges that stretch for about 24 kilometres and rise to 364 m high at the Flinders
Peak. Much of the ranges are protected and located in the You Yangs Regional Park (Parks Victoria, 2014).
9 The Wadawurrung six-season cycle descriptions are combinations adopted from the Boon Wurrung seasons (Gott,
2011), and the Gunditjmara seasons (Jones, 2010), as well as information provided during the discussions directly with
the late Aboriginal Elder Tandop David Tournier in 2014.
5.6 Patterns of Nature and Wadawurrung Settlements