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Aboriginal culture on the Great Ocean Road
Southwest Victoria’s coastline and hinterland supplied natural resources for Aboriginal people for tens of thousands of years. As such it holds significant spiritual connections related to the land, wildlife and Aboriginal ancestors. The Great Ocean Road was built on land owned by clans pertaining to Gunditjmara, Wathaurong, Eastern Maar and Gadubanud language groups.
Unfortunately, long before the GOR was a mere gravel track, the area’s natural resources were also of significance to European immigrants. Farmers, fishermen and whalers in the early 1830s would come into increasing conflict with Aboriginal people. Later, mining industries such as sand, gravel, coal and gold, and the fishing and timber industries, exploited the area’s natural resources, making physical changes to the landscape.
Vast areas of land were cleared and non-native animals such as horses, sheep, rabbits, cats and foxes greatly altered the natural ecosystem. The availability of traditional food sources and the ability to manage the land in traditional ways was also greatly reduced. Low-intensity burning, for instance, was used by Aboriginals to revitalise areas for agriculture, and reduce the risk of bush fires.
Unfortunately, long before the GOR was a mere gravel track, the area’s natural resources were also of significance to European immigrants. Farmers, fishermen and whalers in the early 1830s would come into increasing conflict with Aboriginal people. Later, mining industries such as sand, gravel, coal and gold, and the fishing and timber industries, exploited the area’s natural resources, making physical changes to the landscape.
Vast areas of land were cleared and non-native animals such as horses, sheep, rabbits, cats and foxes greatly altered the natural ecosystem. The availability of traditional food sources and the ability to manage the land in traditional ways was also greatly reduced. Low-intensity burning, for instance, was used by Aboriginals to revitalise areas for agriculture, and reduce the risk of bush fires.
Our Great Ocean Road Holidays
Great Ocean Road 2 day tour, Australia
Spectacular, diverse and thorough micro group tour
From
AU $940
2 days
ex flights
Melbourne to Adelaide 3 day tour, Australia
Experience the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne to Adelaide
From
AU $1625
3 days
ex flights
Great Ocean Road and Grampians 3 day tour, Australia
Diverse coast and mountain journey. Great accommodation/food
From
AU $1625
3 days
ex flights
Great Ocean Walk self guided tour, Australia
The full Great Ocean walk pack free self guided.
From
AU $2895 to AU $2995
8 days
ex flights
Great Ocean walking holiday in Victoria, Australia
Self guided hike of the highlights of the Great Ocean Road
From
AU $1995
5 days
ex flights
Private Great Ocean Road tour
Spectacular, diverse and thorough private group tour
From
AU $1880
3 days
ex flights
Horrific human massacres followed including notable sites at Blanket Bay and the Bay of Martyrs. The Aboriginal population was devastated, with the fraction that remained being forced into Aboriginal reserves and missions such as Framingham Aboriginal Mission near Warrnambool.
Jeremy Redmond is co-owner and small group guide at our Great Ocean Road tour specialists, Australian Natural Treasures: “About 80% of the Aboriginal people in the southwest of Victoria died in the first 40 years of white settlement from disease and conflict. It is always quite devastating for our guests to hear that the conflict was so one sided and that we still have work to do on recognising our Aboriginal people properly. When the conversation takes place at a place such as the ‘Bay of Martyrs’, for instance, known for the settlers driving the Aboriginal men off the cliff at gun point, it comes as a surprise to even the Australian tourists as we were all a little oblivious to what went on.”
When the Great Ocean Road was built by returning WWI veterans (1918-1932) there was little left to imply that the land belonged to anyone other than the Australian state government of Victoria.
New research relating to fire charred stones and scattered shell pits at Moyjil (Point Ritchie) near Warrnambool, actually suggests that human activity can be traced back to more than 120,000 years ago. This takes Australia's Aboriginal human history back twice as far as originally thought.
Jeremy Redmond is co-owner and small group guide at our Great Ocean Road tour specialists, Australian Natural Treasures: “About 80% of the Aboriginal people in the southwest of Victoria died in the first 40 years of white settlement from disease and conflict. It is always quite devastating for our guests to hear that the conflict was so one sided and that we still have work to do on recognising our Aboriginal people properly. When the conversation takes place at a place such as the ‘Bay of Martyrs’, for instance, known for the settlers driving the Aboriginal men off the cliff at gun point, it comes as a surprise to even the Australian tourists as we were all a little oblivious to what went on.”
When the Great Ocean Road was built by returning WWI veterans (1918-1932) there was little left to imply that the land belonged to anyone other than the Australian state government of Victoria.
New research relating to fire charred stones and scattered shell pits at Moyjil (Point Ritchie) near Warrnambool, actually suggests that human activity can be traced back to more than 120,000 years ago. This takes Australia's Aboriginal human history back twice as far as originally thought.
Aboriginal cultural sites on the Great Ocean Road
Make sure you travel with a responsible tour group who don’t gloss over Aboriginal ancestry. Your guides might not be of Aboriginal descent themselves, but they should still be able to address topics sensitively and with honesty. Visit indigenous cultural centres exhibiting ancient archaeological artefacts as well as honest information about how Aboriginal people have been treated.
There’s a traditional Aboriginal talking hut, for example, which is located at the Cape Otway Lighthouse. Here you can meet and chat to indigenous guides who are happy to share their personal and ancestral stories and knowledge of the land as well as teaching kids about bush tucker.
Ask questions and do your research beforehand so you’re equipped with facts. Build visits to indigenous cultural centres into a tailor made itinerary or join a small guided group which have these sorts of sites already included as part of a tour.
Some areas, such as Budj Bim Heritage Landscape near Portland, can only be experienced in the company of an Aboriginal guide. Make sure you travel with tour guides who respect this. Not only will you be providing employment for Aboriginal people, as well as local guides, but you’ll also be contributing to rural economies in remote regions away from the tourist hot spots.
There’s a traditional Aboriginal talking hut, for example, which is located at the Cape Otway Lighthouse. Here you can meet and chat to indigenous guides who are happy to share their personal and ancestral stories and knowledge of the land as well as teaching kids about bush tucker.
Ask questions and do your research beforehand so you’re equipped with facts. Build visits to indigenous cultural centres into a tailor made itinerary or join a small guided group which have these sorts of sites already included as part of a tour.
Some areas, such as Budj Bim Heritage Landscape near Portland, can only be experienced in the company of an Aboriginal guide. Make sure you travel with tour guides who respect this. Not only will you be providing employment for Aboriginal people, as well as local guides, but you’ll also be contributing to rural economies in remote regions away from the tourist hot spots.
The Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre, in Geelong, encourages travellers to listen and learn about Aboriginal Dream tales as well as expanding on the importance of the natural landscapes that you’ll find further west along the coast. From interactive educational exhibits to authentic Aboriginal art and handmade cultural souvenirs, a visit to Narana, prior to heading out, is always an education.
Tower Hill State Game Reserve is another important Aboriginal site to visit if you’re close to the Great Ocean Road. The information centre is managed by the Worn Gundidj Aboriginal Cooperative, which aims to empower Aboriginal people through employment. The surrounding area has also been repopulated with native flora and supports native animals including emu, echidna and possums.
Jeremy Redmond from Australian Natural Treasures shares another Aboriginal cultural centre to visit whilst on the Great Ocean Road: “Brambuk is a great non-government funded cultural centre in Grampians National Park. They tell the Aboriginal creation story via video and also have wonderful displays of boomerangs, shields and artwork, alongside confronting information about the historical mistreatment of indigenous local people. The travellers we introduce to Brambuk are generally enlightened and touched by the deeper understanding about the people, history and issues.”
Tower Hill State Game Reserve is another important Aboriginal site to visit if you’re close to the Great Ocean Road. The information centre is managed by the Worn Gundidj Aboriginal Cooperative, which aims to empower Aboriginal people through employment. The surrounding area has also been repopulated with native flora and supports native animals including emu, echidna and possums.
Jeremy Redmond from Australian Natural Treasures shares another Aboriginal cultural centre to visit whilst on the Great Ocean Road: “Brambuk is a great non-government funded cultural centre in Grampians National Park. They tell the Aboriginal creation story via video and also have wonderful displays of boomerangs, shields and artwork, alongside confronting information about the historical mistreatment of indigenous local people. The travellers we introduce to Brambuk are generally enlightened and touched by the deeper understanding about the people, history and issues.”
Our top Great Ocean Road Holiday
Melbourne to Adelaide 3 day tour, Australia
Experience the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne to Adelaide
From
AU $1625
3 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
Departs every Thursday and Sunday throughout the year
Departs every Thursday and Sunday throughout the year
Travel Team
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What you can do
More about Great Ocean Road
Take your time over our Great Ocean Road travel guide and you’ll be in the right frame of mind for making the most of every one of those 243km – rather than concentrating solely on ocean eroded sea stacks.
Victoria’s natural scenery is so varied that finding the best time to go can depend on what wildlife you wish to see.
Check out the clifftop trails overlooking Crayfish Bay, between Blanket Bay and Cape Otway Lighthouse, and you’ll be well off the Great Ocean Road without another soul in sight.
Self drive with detailed routes notes or jump into a small group vehicle with a local guide; whatever you do, don’t just head to the Twelve Apostles and turn back to Melbourne in a day.
This is an excellent area for seeing indigenous animals in their natural environment with experienced local wildlife guides able to explain where and when to go as well as what to see at sea and on dry land.
Make the most of Melbourne, by all means, just give equal time to the out of the way beaches and bays to be found on the Great Ocean Road.
Listen to the tales told by our expert guides and responsible travellers and you might well uncover a few facts that are worth investigating further.
Climate change is a major cause of erosion along the Great Ocean Road, but you might be surprised to discover there's an even bigger contributor to changes to the landscape.
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