Victoria, Australia, has become a hotspot for cultural tourism thanks to its rich Aboriginal history. Victoria’s Aboriginal heritage and culture can be absorbed with a depth of fascinating experiences from the city of Melbourne to the country.
Visitors can learn about the oldest living culture in the world by discovering significant cultural sites such as Budj Bim (recently named among the 35 ‘best destinations in the world’ by National Geographic UK), hiking in the Grampians National Park, featuring a wealth of Indigenous rock art sites and celebrating contemporary Aboriginal cuisine at Mabu Mabu – a new restaurant run by a Torres Strait Islander chef.
Here are the top activities to explore the rich Aboriginal culture of Melbourne and Victoria.
Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, UNESCO World Heritage (Great Ocean Road)
First Nations owned-and-operated Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, recently named by National Geographic UK as one of the top 35 ‘Best in the world’ destination to visit in 2023, is a new cultural experience offering visitors a guided tour of Southwest Victoria’s Gunditjmara Country. Located close to the Great Ocean Road, it features the earliest known example of aquaculture in the world, with a history of eel farming dating back over 6,000 years. Visitors can discover the region’s heritage through stories told by locals, explore the precious natural environment or build their own eel traps using ancient techniques. https://www.visitvictoria.com/regions/great-ocean-road/see-and-do/tours/nature-and-wildlife-tours/budj-bim-cultural-landscape-tourism
Koorie Heritage Trust (Melbourne)
Located in the cultural heart of Narrm (Melbourne) at Federation Square, the Koorie Heritage Trust is a not-for-profit Aboriginal owned and run cultural centre, which offers a range of walks, programmes and services to promote, support and celebrate the continuing journey of the Aboriginal people of South-Eastern Australia. Their annual exhibition programme showcases local Aboriginal artists and gives visitors the opportunity of supporting the community by purchasing handcrafted locally-made gifts. With activities like the Birrarung Wilam (River Camp) walk, visitors will be able to experience authentic Aboriginal art and culture from the First People of South East Australia right in the heart of Melbourne.www.visitvictoria.com/regions/melbourne/see-and-do/aboriginal-victoria/aboriginal-art/aboriginal-heritage-walk
Aboriginal Heritage Walk, Royal Botanical Gardens (Melbourne)
Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens rest on a traditional meeting place of the area’s custodians – the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri people. The Gardens’ Aboriginal Heritage Walks take visitors on a journey of the ancestral lands of the Kulin nation. The award-winning walk includes a guided tour with an Aboriginal local who also explains the traditional uses of plants for food, tools and medicine, as well as an introduction to the history of their people.
Aboriginal Rock Art in the Grampians National Park (Grampians)
The Grampians National Park (traditionally known as Gariwerd) is the richest site for Aboriginal history and art in all of Victoria. Aboriginal people have maintained an association with the area for tens of thousands of years, leaving evidence of their lives in the region. Gariwerd has the largest number of rock art sites in Southern Australia, some dating back more than 30,000 years. There are approximately 60 sites recorded in Gariwerd, with five sites open to the public containing heritage artefacts and examples of rock art that is amongst some of the oldest ever discovered. Most art sites are situated under rock overhangs, providing shelter and strategic viewing points of the stunning surrounds, making it a great stop on the ultimate road trip in Victoria.
https://www.visitvictoria.com/regions/grampians/see-and-do/aboriginal-victoria
Celebrate Aboriginal culture at YIRRAMBOI Festival (4-14 May 2023, Melbourne)
If you are lucky enough to visit Melbourne in the month of May, it might be worth attending the YIRRAMBOI Festival, Australia’s only First Nations-led arts festival, featuring more than 100 events from over 250 creatives. To the Boonwurrung and Woiwurrung peoples, YIRRAMBOI means “tomorrow”, and it’s the name chosen for this unique festival that interconnects First Nations creatives locally, nationally and internationally to highlight the diversity and richness of this culture. Coming back for their fourth edition in May 2023, it will be a 10-day feast of dance, theatre and cinema in the heart of Melbourne, a love letter to Australian heritage.
Aboriginal food
Melbourne and Victoria are known for their food and drink offerings, from experimental cocktail bars to restaurants highlighting the use of native ingredients. There is a variety of restaurants, cafes, food trucks and wineries celebrating local flavours and exploring staple indigenous food prepared by Aboriginal people, promoting their cultural heritage through delicious dishes with a lot of history.
Big Esso by Mabu Mabu (Melbourne)
Big Esso has taken Victoria by storm with its 130 seater all-day bar and kitchen in Melbourne’s renowned Federation Square. Created by Torres Strait islander chef, Nornie Bero, Big Esso is all about bringing indigenous flavours and ingredients to mainstream dining, in a down to earth, communal, vibrant setting. Featuring Australia’s first indigenous bar, expect to find a menu that is full of mouth-watering food. From island wild rice to Kebi Ebur, their colourful dishes are designed to take visitors on a unique culinary dining experience.Big Esso meaning ‘the biggest thank you’, promises Melburnians and visitors alike, a unique, memorable dining experience.
www.visitvictoria.com/regions/melbourne/eat-and-drink/restaurants/big-esso-by-mabu-mabu
Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre Café (Geelong & the Bellarine)
The award-winning Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre is situated in Geelong, the gateway to the Great Ocean Road. The building itself has been architecturally designed to reflect Aboriginal cultural practices and houses an education centre with cultural programmes. The Centre’s indigenous art gallery shows a collection of authentic Aboriginal art from Yuendumu in the central desert of Australia, including pieces by internationally acclaimed artists. No visit is complete though without a meal at the café, featuring an indigenous-inspired menu with fresh ingredients sourced from their onsite garden: from kangaroo burgers to wild bush berry pancakes.
Cooee Café (Mornington Peninsula)
Cooee Café is an indigenous eatery in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, serving authentic Indigenous foods, flavours and dishes alongside regular Australian cuisine. Visitors should not miss the famous lemon myrtle, healthy smoothies and kangaroo burgers. The cafe also features a shop with products, homewares and gifts from authentic Indigenous-owned local businesses. The word “cooee” originates from the Dharug language of the original inhabitants of the Sydney area. It means “come here” and has now become widely used in Australia as a call over distances.
www.cooeecafeandcatering.com.au/
For information on visiting Melbourne and Victoria, head to: www.visitmelbourne.com/uk
