Skip to main content

Aboriginal heritage

The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges that there are sites of cultural heritage in and around the Queen Victoria Market precinct, and recognises the tangible and intangible connection of Aboriginal people to place.

 Historical bird's eye view map of Melbourne. ​1866 ​​plan of Melbourne​​

These connections include the Aboriginal burial section of the Old Melbourne Cemetery, the burial place of two Tasmanian Aboriginal men, Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner, the first people to be publicly hanged by the Government in the District of Port Phillip, the colony to become known as Melbourne.

The Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal program team are in the process of preparing Cultural Heritage Management Plans (CHMPs) for the former Old Melbourne Cemetery area and the surrounding precinct.

There is currently no recognised Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) for the precinct, but three Traditional Custodian groups are recognised as having an interest in the site.

We are working closely with representatives from the Wurundjeri Tribe Land Compensation and Cultural Heritage Council, the Boon Wurrung Foundation and the Bunurong Land Council to prepare the CHMPs. For more information about Melbourne's cultural heritage, see Aboriginal Melbourne.

our acknowledgement

  • Torres Strait Islander Flag
  • Aboriginal People Flag

The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we govern, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin and pays respect to their Elders past and present. 

 

We acknowledge and honour the unbroken spiritual, cultural and political connection they have maintained to this unique place for more than 2000 generations.

We accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are committed to walking together to build a better future.