Important Aboriginal cultural heritage sites and objects can be found all over Victoria and are often near major food sources such as rivers, lakes and wetlands.
At a flood-damaged home in Kialla, potential sites of significant Aboriginal cultural heritage have been discovered through our clean-up program. The property, close to the banks of the Goulburn River, is on Yorta Yorta country.
The home was registered for demolition following the October 2022 Victorian floods. All properties registered for site works under our clean-up program are assessed for Aboriginal cultural heritage.
A cultural heritage supervisor made the discovery at the rear of the property. Early assessments suggest the presence of a Birthing Tree and a Ring Tree. These trees have strong cultural significance to Aboriginal people.
Melanie Micalizzi is the Cultural Heritage Lead from A2B Personnel.
‘The property owners are very excited about it', she explains. 'They're very keen to learn and know more which is a really nice learning piece, to come from the project as well,’ she says.
After the discovery, an archaeologist will be engaged to look at the sites. If the sites are confirmed, they will be listed on the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register.
To protect the area, a Safe Working Recommendation has been issued and the back of the property has been fenced off.
These discoveries highlight the importance of acknowledging and protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage in all that we do at Emergency Recovery Victoria.
Learn more about the discovery by watching the video below.
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