Learn about the Wurundjeri people and Aboriginal Yarra today.
Wominjeka, welcome to Wurundjeri country
About the Wurundjeri people
The area now known as the City of Yarra stands on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people. Their connection to the land and its waterways extends back tens of thousands of years to the beginning of time when their creator spirit Bunjil formed the land and all living things.
The settlement and development of Melbourne impacted heavily on the Wurundjeri. From the 1830s, dispossession of land, dislocation, frontier clashes and introduced diseases led to a dramatic decline in the population.
Despite these impacts, the Wurundjeri survived and the strong bonds between families and clans could not be broken. It is a testament to the ongoing strength of the Wurundjeri people that Wurundjeri Elders continue to make us welcome on their traditional lands, in spite of our history.
To learn more about the Aboriginal history of the area visit our dedicated website.
Aboriginal Yarra today
In recent years, the area has changed rapidly and rising property prices have pushed many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (and others) further north. In spite of this, Yarra is still a preferred place for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to live, meet up, work and access services.
At Yarra, we deeply value the contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have made and continue to make to the area.
We have a strong commitment to the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and are always thinking about new ways that we can work with, support, learn from and celebrate the local Aboriginal communities, and the broader Aboriginal community connected to the area.
In 2017 we decided to change the way we are commemorate our national holiday to be more inclusive and sensitive to Aboriginal experiences.
Since 2000, Yarra's work with the local Aboriginal community has been guided by a policy called the Aboriginal Partnerships Plan. A new plan is developed every 4 years through extensive consultation with the local community.
In 2019, the name of the Aboriginal Partnerships Plan was changed to Yana Ngargna Plan. Yana Ngargna is a Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung phrase meaning 'continuing connection'.
This refers to the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung's continuing connection to culture, country and identity-as well as Yarra's commitment to developing continuing connections with Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and organisations.
- Download our Yana Ngargna Plan 2020-2023 [ PDF, 485.27 KB]
We also manage a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) working group consisting of our staff.
The RAP working group meets monthly to share progress on our projects, support each other and build the organisation's cultural competency. This ensures a coordinated approach to our work with the local Aboriginal community. If you would like a copy you can request it from us by calling 9205 5555.
If you are a local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who wants to get involved, share your ideas, connect with what we're doing, or let us know what we could be doing better, please get in touch.
We'd love to hear from you. Contact Yarra City Council.