Boroondara Indigenous Heritage Study Stage 2, June 2004

AN INDIGENOUS HERITAGE STUDYCITY OF BOROONDARA

STAGE 2

Report prepared for City of Boroondara

Matt Chamberlain and Claire Nicholls

TerraCulture Pty Ltd

June 2004

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Preamble 11.2 Project Aims 11.3 Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV) 21.4 Aboriginal Community Consultation 21.5 Aboriginal Perspective 2

2.0 Legislative Protection for Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Sites 3

2.1 State and Commonwealth Aboriginal Heritage Legislation 32.2 Other Commonwealth Protection for Aboriginal Heritage 4

3.0 Ethnohistorical Background 5

3.1 Pre-Contact 53.2 First Contact 73.3 1830s-1850s 73.4 1850s- 10

4.0 Archaeological Background 12

4.1 Previous Archaeological Investigations 12

5.0 Timeline of European Settlement and Urbanisation of Boroondara 15

6.0 Summary and Implications of Background Information 18

6.1 Registered Site Locations 186.2 Ethnohistorical Evidence 186.3 Previous Archaeological Investigations 186.4 Urbanisation 19

7.0 Field Survey and Results 20

7.1 Reconnaissance Survey Areas 207.2 Field Survey Results 22

8.0 Conclusions and Site Prediction Model 25

8.1 Summary of Results 258.2 Discussion and Site Prediction Model 25

List of Maps

Map 1 Regional map showing the location of BoroondaraMap 2 Showing features such as main roads railway lines, and major waterways

Map 3 Showing the location of areas referred to in ethnohistorical sources Map 4 Showing areas of archaeological sensitivity as defined in previous archaeological

investigations Map 5 Areas investigated during the field component of the this investigation Map 6 Showing areas of archaeological sensitivity within the City of Boroondara. List of Plates Plate 1 Walking track adjacent to Kew Billabong Plate 2 Walking track adjacent to the Yarra River, alongside the Eastern Freeway Plate 3 Yarra Bend Park Plate 4 Yarra Bend Park adjacent to the Yarra River Plate 5 Walking track alongside the Yarra River, Yarra Bend Park Plate 6 Hilly terrain in Yarra Bend Park Plate 7 Walking tracks in Yarra Bend Park Plate 8 Dickinson Reserve Plate 9 Walking track adjacent to the Yarra River, Dickinson Reserve Plate 10 Hays Paddock Plate 11 Hays Paddock Plate 12 Glass Creek, Hays Paddock Plate 13 Koonung Creek Reserve Plate 14 Beckett Park Plate 15 Fairview Park Plate 16 Fairview Park List of Appendices Appendix 1 Annotated Bibliography Appendix 2 Client Brief – City of Boroondara Appendix 3 AAV Correspondence Cover Ilustration Detail from ‘Native encampment on the banks of the Yarra’, watercolour by J. Cotton, La Trobe Collection, State Library of Victoria. Printed in Coutts, P.J.F, Readings in Victorian Prehistory, Volume 2: The Victorian Aboriginals 1800 to 1860. Victoria Archaeological Survey, Ministry for Conservation, Victoria May 1981. Figure 61.

Acknowledgements This study was made possible with the assistance of the Rotary Club of Balwyn. TerraCulture wish to acknowledge the following people and organisations for assistance in this project: Allan Wandin Wurundjeri Tribe Land Compensation and Cultural

Heritage Council Inc. Tony Garvey (Field Assistant) Wurundjeri Tribe Land Compensation and Cultural

Heritage Council Inc. Julia Cusack Aboriginal Affairs Victoria Jeremy Smith Heritage Victoria The following TerraCulture staff contributed to this report: Matt Chamberlain Fieldwork, Background Research, Report Writing,

Mapping and Illustration, Report Production Claire Nicholls Fieldwork, Background Research, Report Writing,

Mapping and Illustration, Report Production Catherine Webb Editing

City of Boroondara Indigenous Heritage Study - Stage 2 June 2004

M. Chamberlain & C. Nicholls TerraCulture Pty Ltd 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Preamble In 2001 TerraCulture Pty Ltd was commissioned to conduct an Indigenous Heritage Study for the City of Boroondara, Stage 1 of which was completed in August 2002. In 2003 the Council allocated funds for the continuation of the Indigenous Heritage Study, and TerraCulture was advised to proceed with Stage 2. The Stage 1 investigation was completed in 2002 by TerraCulture and contained a literature review which identified sources of information in regards to the Indigenous heritage of Boroondara, the type of information contained in these sources, and the location of this information (TerraCulture 2002). Stage 2 follows on from the recommendations made in Stage 1 and involves a more in-depth analysis of the ethnohistorical and archaeological sources listed in Stage 1 and the development of a site prediction model based upon background information and a field survey. A more detailed description of the project aims are outlined below in Section 1.2. The City of Boroondara (Map 1 and 2) is situated in the east-central suburbs of Melbourne and is bounded by the Yarra River, Koonung Creek and the Eastern Freeway to the north, Warrigal Road to the east, Gardiners Creek and the Monash Freeway to the south, and the Yarra River and Gardiners Creek in the west. The municipality is located approximately four kilometers from the Melbourne Central Business District, and includes the suburbs of Kew, Glenferrie, Burwood, Kew East, Balwyn, Balwyn North, Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Camberwell, Canterbury, Surrey Hills, Mont Albert, Glen Iris, and Ashburton. 1.2 Project Aims As recommended in the Stage 1 report, Stage 2 will involve the following

• A detailed review of ethno-historical and archaeological material listed in the Stage 1 report;

• Oral history interviews with Wurundjeri Elders by a Wurundjeri representative;

• Development of an Aboriginal archaeological site prediction model, which uses data on known sites/places to help predict where unknown Aboriginal sites/places are located within the municipality;

• An archaeological field survey within the municipality to identify both known and potential Aboriginal heritage values. The field crew will consist of a qualified archaeologist from TerraCulture assisted by a representative of the Wurundjeri Community;

• Production of a report detailing the results of the study: ethno-historic review and archaeological investigation. The report will contain literary, visual and possibly oral history references to Boroondara’s Aboriginal past, as well as maps identifying known and potential Aboriginal sites/places within the municipality. In addition to documenting the existence and location of Boroondara’s tangible Aboriginal heritage, the maps can be used as a planning tool to allow Aboriginal heritage values in Boroondara to be protected within the local planning scheme.

As noted above, the Stage 1 report recommended that a Wurundjeri representative should undertake oral history interviews with Wurundjeri Elders. However, throughout the course of the Stage 2 investigation a Wurundjeri representative was unavailable. TerraCulture archaeologists Matt Chamberlain and Claire Nicholls met with the City of Boroondara on the



20th of April and informed them of this matter. It was decided that the oral history component would be left out of this stage of the investigation. 1.3 Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV) AAV Heritage Services Branch is the State Government body that administers the Commonwealth and State Legislation that serves to protect Aboriginal heritage in Victoria. This heritage includes archaeological sites, artefact collections and places of cultural significance. Further to the above project aims, the standard Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV) Outline Brief for Archaeological Survey Projects was adopted in order to meet their requirements for undertaking and reporting on an archaeological investigation. The objectives outlined in this brief are summarised below:

1. To locate archaeological sites within the project area, using a systematic strategy. 2. To record and interpret any archaeological sites found. 3. To establish the significance of any archaeological sites found, using criteria normally

applied to the assessment of cultural heritage resources. 4. To identify any areas or landforms of high archaeological potential. 5. To establish the implications which the presence of any archaeological resources

may have for the future management and/or development of the project area. 6. To establish the views of Aboriginal people, and of any other groups with a special

interest in the archaeology of the project area, on matters such as the interpretation and significance of recorded sites, and on appropriate management procedures.

7. To develop recommendations and guidelines for:

• Management of each identified archaeological site, or areas of high archaeological potential

• Methods to be used for carrying out additional work, including information on permits /consents required if it is proposed that sites are to be disturbed or destroyed

• Interpretation of each identified archaeological site, or areas of high archaeological potential.

Prior to the fieldwork reported below and in accordance with Section 22 of the Archaeological and Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act 1972, AAV was notified of the survey via a Schedule 2 survey notification. Their response is presented in Appendix 1. 1.4 Aboriginal Community Consultation Under the Regulations of the Commonwealth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984, the City of Boroondara falls within the boundaries of the Wurundjeri Tribe Land Compensation and Cultural Heritage Council Incorporated (Wurundjeri for short). Under the heritage legislation, the Wurundjeri are the statutory authority for Aboriginal cultural heritage sites in the Boroondara area. The Wurundjeri were contacted prior to the fieldwork and a representative participated in this fieldwork. The field results were discussed with the Wurundjeri representative during the course of the fieldwork. The Wurundjeri will be kept informed of the progress of the project and will be provided with a copy of this report. 1.5 Aboriginal Perspective The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 recognises a cultural significance to artefacts, sites and places, distinct from an assessment based on scientific values. As the statutory authority the Wurundjeri have their own views on the importance of individual archaeological sites or areas as being generally sensitive for Aboriginal heritage materials. This report focuses on the scientific values but records any views expressed by the Wurundjeri representatives during this investigation.



2.0 LEGISLATIVE PROTECTION FOR ABORIGINAL CULTURAL HERITAGE SITES All heritage legislation is subordinate to the Coroner’s Act 1985 in relation to the discovery of human remains. 2.1 State and Commonwealth Aboriginal Heritage Legislation

Victoria has both State and Commonwealth legislation providing protection for Aboriginal cultural heritage. With the exception of human remains interred after the year 1834, the State Archaeological and Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act 1972 provides blanket protection for all material relating to the past Aboriginal occupation of Australia, both before and after European occupation. This includes individual artefacts, scatters of stone tools, rock art sites, ancient camp sites, human burials, trees with slabs of bark removed (for the manufacture of canoes, shelters, etc.) and ruins and archaeological deposits associated with Aboriginal missions or reserves. The Act also establishes administrative procedures for archaeological investigations and the mandatory reporting of the discovery of Aboriginal sites. Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV) administers the Archaeological and Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act 1972.

In 1987, Part IIA of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 was introduced by the Commonwealth Government to provide protection for Aboriginal cultural property in Victoria. Immediately after enactment, the Commonwealth delegated the powers and responsibilities set out in Part IIA to the Victorian Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs. Currently, the Hon. Gavin Jennings holds this delegation, and the legislation is administered on a day-to-day basis by AAV.

Whereas the State Act provides legal protection for all the physical evidence of past Aboriginal occupation, the Commonwealth Act deals with Aboriginal cultural property in a wider sense. Such cultural property includes any places, objects and folklore that 'are of particular significance to Aboriginals in accordance with Aboriginal tradition'. Again, there is no cut-off date and the Act may apply to contemporary Aboriginal property as well as ancient sites. The Commonwealth Act takes precedence over State cultural heritage legislation where there is conflict. In most cases, Aboriginal archaeological sites registered under the State Act will also be Aboriginal places subject to the provisions of the Commonwealth Act. The Commonwealth Act prohibits anyone from defacing, damaging, interfering with or endangering an Aboriginal place unless the prior consent of the local Aboriginal community has been obtained in writing. The Schedule to the Act lists local Aboriginal communities and each community's area is defined in the Regulations so that the whole of Victoria is covered. The City of Boroondara is in the community area of the Wurundjeri Tribe Land Compensation and Cultural Heritage Council Incorporated. They can be contacted at:

Wurundjeri Tribe Land Compensation & Cultural Heritage Council Incorporated 19 Barak Lane Healesville Vic. 3777

Further information on the State and Commonwealth legislation protecting Aboriginal heritage in Victoria and the role of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV) Heritage Services Branch can be obtained from: Aboriginal Affairs Victoria Heritage Services Branch GPO 2392V Melbourne Vic 3001 Phone: (03) 9208 3333



2.2 Other Commonwealth Protection for Aboriginal Cultural Heritage In August 2003 the Federal Parliament passed three new sets of legislation that identify, conserve and protect cultural and natural heritage places of national significance. The legislation also creates an independent body to advise the relevant Minister on the registration and management of significant heritage places. These are:

1. Environment and Heritage Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2003 2. Australian Heritage Council Act 2003; and 3. Australian Heritage Council (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2003

2.3.1 The Environment and Heritage Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2003: This Act:

• Replaces the Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975 • Amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999; • Sets out steps for entering places on the National Heritage List and Commonwealth

Heritage List (see below); • Prescribes criteria for the nomination of places on these lists and sets out

management principals for listed places. Under this Act, Australia’s National Heritage ‘…will be protected using the Commonwealth’s constitutional powers and managed co-operatively with State and Territory governments and private owners where appropriate’. 2.3.2 The Australian Heritage Council (Australian Heritage Council Act 2003) As of the 1st January 2004, the Australian Heritage Council Act 2002 establishes the Australian Heritage Council (AHC). The AHC replaces the Australian Heritage Commission and as stated in the Bill its functions are to:

• Assess nominations in relation to the listing of places on the National Heritage List and the Commonwealth heritage List

• Advise the Minister on specified matters relating to heritage • Promote the identification, assessment and conservation of heritage.



3.0 ETHNOHISTORICAL BACKGROUND This ethno-historical background is gleaned directly from sources outlined in the Stage 1 section of the investigation. While the full list of these sources was reviewed, the following chapter discusses only material directly relevant to Boroondara. A fully annotated bibliography is included. In the process of reviewing the sources, additional references were encountered which deserved further investigation. These were also reviewed and added to the original bibliography. 3.1 Pre-Contact Many of the primary sources of ethnohistory highlighted in Stage 1 of this assessment have been collated by Clark (1990) in his reconstruction of traditional language boundaries in western Victoria. According to Clark, Aborigines of the Woi Wurrung language group were the former occupants of the Melbourne region. The Woi wurrung were part of the East Kulin Language area, which covered central Victoria from the east side of Port Phillip Bay north to the Murray River (Clark 1990:363,364, Table 20). The Woi wurrung language group was divided into at least four clans. Clark defines the clan as the ‘land owning, land renewing and land-sustaining unit of Aboriginal society’ (1990:4). Similarly, Barwick defines the term as ‘a named localised patrilineal descent group ... whose members had an historical, religious and genealogical identity’ (Barwick 1984:106). She notes that ‘Clan territories were defined by ritual and economic responsibilities. Clan names were distinguished by the suffixes -balluk or -bulluck meaning a number of people and –(w)illam…meaning dwelling place’ (Barwick 1984:106). Barwick continues her discussion on clan organisation noting that:

‘Clan lands were exploited by residential groups (now termed bands) whose membership changed over time as nuclear families formed, aged and were replaced, and over the course of each year because the families and individuals instilled to make use of a specific clan estate were sometimes together (and) sometimes dispersed’ (Barwick 1984: 106).

Whilst the composition of a clan was fluid during an individual’s lifetime, ‘clan membership was fixed at birth and these were inherited from a person’s father and retained … until death’ (Barwick 1984: 106). 3.1.1 Wurundjeri balug One of the four Woi wurrung clans, the clan occupying land that may have included what is now the Boroondara area were the Wurundjeri balug. They were divided into two patrilines; the Wurundjeri willam and the Bulug willam - groups who were based around the Yarra River, Western Port Bay and their catchments. The Wurundjeri willam were in turn divided into a number of smaller clans. Following Clark (1990: 385 and Figure 13), Jacky Jacky’s mob, whose territory included the 'tract on S bank of Yarra, from Gardiner's Creek upstream to Yarra Flats and N slopes of 'Dandenong mountains', were the people most likely using the land at the time of white settlement. Jacky Jacky (also known as Bor-run-up-ton, Boronuptune, Borungyupton, Burrenupton, or Jaga Jagga) was a Ngurungaeta (headman) and brother of Billibellary, Ngurungaeta of a Wurundjeri willam group associated with the Maribyrnong river to Merri Creek, and to Mount William in the north (Clark 1990: 385). Jacky Jacky was possibly a signatory of the Batman Treaty in 1835, at the junction of the Yarra River and Merri Creek. 3.1.2 Hunting and Gathering As hunters and gatherers the Wurundjeri willam clan subsisted on the plants and animals within their clan estate. Their patterns of settlement were based on seasonal rounds following the changing availability of plant and animal resources. There are few historic details on traditional Woi wurrung subsistence for the language group as a whole. It is likely that Woi wurrung patterns of settlement and movement were based on seasonal rounds following the



changing availability of plant and animal resources. Historical details on how animals were traditionally procured (the techniques of hunting) and how and when plants were harvested are extremely poor for most of Aboriginal Victoria. It is known that the Woi wurrung used spears to hunt and that hunters would hide behind vegetation or construct hides of stone. Nets were also used where game animals would be chased into them. Certain foods are common to many accounts including:

• the Yam daisy or Murnong, the tuber of which was dug up by women; • bull-rush roots which were collected from waterways and roasted; • eels, which were a seasonal food caught in stone weirs and long fibre nets; • kangaroos and other smaller macropods which were hunted; • birds and their eggs; • possums - the fur of brush tail possums was used to make cloaks and the

meat roasted and according to Presland (1994) preserved for later use. Possum skin cloaks were a prestige item and there are only two surviving examples of traditional cloaks.

Presland's (1994) reconstruction of a Wurundjeri camp on the Yarra River in late autumn, presents an interpretation of Woi wurrung subsistence based on historical, archaeological and other material evidence. Presland notes that the Wurundjeri traditionally spent the summer months on the banks of the Yarra where food was abundant, and moved to higher ground on the fringes of the Dandenongs in winter where there was more shelter. The Wurundjeri camp activities are discussed in terms of the differing roles of men and women in procuring supplies, and highlights the waterways and swamps as essential sources of plant and animal resources. Presland also highlights the importance of fish and fishing within the Wurundjeri subsistence pattern;

"Both scaled and shellfish are caught as well as eels. Fish hooks are not commonly used by these men but there is more than one way to catch fish. At a number of places around the region there are traps set in rivers and streams at points where the flow of water is restricted. Funnel shaped fishing pots take the fish as they swim with the stream. [...] The men catch fish at night. They stand in canoes on the river and hold lighted brands near the water's surface. The fish are attracted to the light and are more easily speared. Fish spears are often tipped with a bone point" (Presland 1994: 76).

While the men were hunting, Presland states that the collection of plant materials was the work of Wurundjeri women;

"Autumn is the time of the year when the greatest number of perennials are available and there is a wide variety of plant foods. Around the swamps and marshes the young shoots and roots of bullrush can be collected and eaten. There are also the fruits and seeds of various aquatic plants and the roots of water ribbons [...] The women also collect rushes, which they will make into baskets and items of jewellery such as reed necklaces" (Presland 1994: 78-79).

3.1.3 Religious Organisation and Significant Spiritual and Religious Places The social organisation of the Woi Wurrung was based on a moiety system that recognised clans and the individuals within them as belonging to one of two moieties; Waa (Crow) or Bunjil (Eaglehawk). The marriage system was based on these moieties and determined possible partners, which could only be of opposite moieties. In this way each generation of a clan married outside that clan (often to other language groups), reaffirming the religious, trade and social links between the separate groups. For the Wurundjeri willam it is known that their moiety was Waa (the crow).



Presland and others have remarked on the lack of information on the spiritual and ceremonial life of the Woi Wurrung and how initiation rites and the location of sacred sites was restricted knowledge (Presland 1994: 87-88). 3.2 First Contact One of the first references by Europeans to Aboriginal people in the Boroondara area was made by James Fleming, a member of the survey party of Charles Grimes, which made its way up the Yarra in 1803. Fleming was to report on the agricultural potential of the country:

"Monday 7th (February 1803) - Early in the morning the party went up the river before with the doctor, went up the little hill (Batman's Hill) we had been at on the 4th, where we stopped to breakfast. Proceeded to a creek (Gardiner's Creek), where we dined. Saw some natives..." (in Vaughan 1960: 11-12).

Smith's 1896 history of Hawthorn records that John Gardiner, one of the earliest settlers in the Boroondara region, took up land on the south side of the Yarra in 1837. Gardiner established his home at the junction of Gardiner's Creek and the Yarra River, in the grounds of what is now Scotch College (Vaughan 1960: 13):

"Pushing his way round the bank of the stream, he came to large creek upon which numbers of native wild fowl were found, and here he settled. It was not long before the blacks found him out, and as he treated them well and they became friendly. He asked them the name of the place and they said they called it "Boroondarra", signifying "shady place". He also asked them the name of the wild fowl on the creek, and they called these "Kooyongkoot". He therefore named the district Boroondara [...] while he called the stream the Kooyongkoot Creek. The former title has been retained to this day, but the latter has been discarded, and the creek named after Gardiner himself" (Smith 1896: 8).

This history provides further detail about the Aboriginal people of the Boroondara area, who Smith refers to as belonging to the 'Yarra tribe':

"The tribe was one of the most powerful in the whole Port Phillip district, and ranged all over the country drained by the Yarra Yarra. The portion called by them "Boroondara" was a favourite resting place for the tribe, and on top of the hill now occupied by St. Xaviers College at Kew they used to meet to hold periodical corroborees" (Smith 1896: 12).

3.3 1830s-1850s Numerous sources quote an incident in April 1838 during which two Aboriginal men were captured during an altercation at the Gardiner station. This commotion ensued after the Aboriginal men had allegedly stolen potatoes from Gardiner's vegetable patch. The mission report for April 1838 by George Langhorne, Superintendent of the Government Mission states:

"From Mr Gardiner I learnt that the blacks had lately been stealing his potatoes and had been fired on by his men who were set to watch at night. That on the present occasion, his man Underwood had gone down to the potato field, and observing two blacks, one of whom was the prisoner, stealing potatoes, he told them he must take them to his master. The blacks then told Underwood to inform his master that they were very hungry and wanted some potatoes, upon which he attempted to seize them, when two blacks rushed out and one pointing a gun threatened to shoot, upon which he left them and in getting away some distance called out 'Murder', upon which the blacks were immediately pursued and fired upon. One was slightly wounded and the other escaped with the exception of the



prisoner Tullamarine who was knocked down with the butt end of a musket and secured" (Cannon 1982: 213)

Underwood's own statement in the Melbourne Court Register (Cannon 1982: 215) recounts that he had seen a group of blacks, including two men named Tullamarine and Jin Jin, in the potato field carrying bags of potatoes. Underwood had attempted to decoy the men to the Gardiner house, then attempted to force one of them, at which point two of the Aborigines produced weapons. Underwood then told them that he had to leave and invited them to take the potatoes and that he would not tell Mr. Gardiner. Underwood then ran back to the house and raised the alarm, leading to the capture of Tullamarine. Jin Jin was apprehended later. Although the court records do not record a verdict (Cannon 1982: 215), Tullamarine and Jin Jin were committed for trial and imprisoned in the Melbourne lock-up. The two contrived to set fire to the thatch roof of the lock up and escape. A watercolour by W.F.E Liardet, held by the State Library of Victoria, depicts this getaway (see Figure 1 below). They were eventually recaptured and sent to Sydney for trial but the charges were dropped and the two were returned to Melbourne (Cannon 1982: 219). Figure 1: Tullamarine and Jin Jin set fire to the thatched roof of Melbourne’s first gaol and make their escape. A watercolour by W. F. E. Liardet, painted about 1875. In the La Trobe Library, State Library of Victoria (in Cannon 1982: 214).

Many secondary sources also discuss the growing conflict between European settlers and Aboriginal people in Boroondara during the early 1840s. C.G.A. Colles history of Hawthorn contains numerous references including:

"In the years 1841 and 1842 many of the settlers in this locality were troubled considerably by the blacks. [...] There are not a great many evidences of cruelty on the part of the settlers, and such as occurred were mostly acts perpetrated by the few ruffianly outlaws always to be found in a new country, which in some cases the blacks themselves summarily avenged. Governor Latrobe, in consequence of complaints of the settlers, arrested - or rather had driven, like a flock of sheep, into the town - some 400 blacks - men, women and children. Having caught his Tartars, he was at a loss what to do with them, and perforce let them go again. A large number crossed the river, and held an immense corrobboree on the hill now crowned by the Methodist Church, and having speared several sheep and cattle - probably Captain Gardiner's - held a right royal feast thereafter. [...] The settlers could make little use of these aborigines, however kindly they may have been disposed towards them, save perhaps in



some cases where the sheep farmers employed them as shepherds in a desultory manner, until, in 1842, Captain H. E. Pulteney Dana formed a native camp with, originally 25 Westernport natives, training them into an excellent corps called the native police. Several of the Boroondara blacks were taken into this corps, and for many years did good service in the suppression of bushranging, and later on in the gold escorts" (Colles 1910:10).

In 1842, the confluence of the Yarra River and Merri Creek (on the Northern side of the Yarra) became the location of the temporary headquarters of the Native Police Corps and also the headquarters of the Assistant Protector of Aborigines, and as a result large numbers of Aboriginal people descended on the area;

"Camps at the confluence of the Merri Creek and Yarra River became more frequent during the Native Police occupation of the government reserve, with as many as 500 people camped at the site during September 1842. As the Protectorate officials sought to keep them from the Native Police quarters, camps sprung up all around the site, south of the confluence, including present day Studley Park west of the Merri Creek and north and south of Heidelberg Road" (Clark and Heydon 1998: 63).

The Protectorate on the Merri was visited by tribes and clans from throughout Victoria, and it is clear that by this time, European diseases were having an effect on the Aboriginal population of Boroondara and elsewhere:

The effects of European diseases on Aboriginal people could be seen at the government reserve at the confluence of the Merri Creek and the Yarra River. Illness effected the Aboriginal people of the Melbourne area, as well as clanspeople from the Duangwurrung, Wathawurrung, and Djadjawurrung . Illness amongst the Duangwurrung people was recorded by Thomas at his quarters in the government reserve in 1842. He stayed for a week with the sick south of the confluence of the Merri Creek and Yarra River, opposite Dight’s Mill, which today is Studley Park" (Clark and Heydon 1998:79-80).

Figure 2: ‘ Photograph of the Protectors Hut near Studley Park c. 1840-45’. Mitchell Library, Sydney. Possibly of Protector W. Thomas’s hut with Thomas at the right of the photograph (in Coutts 1981: figure 128).



The theme of continuing complaints from settlers about an Aboriginal presence in Boroondara continues into the later 1840s and early 1850s. References at this time are generally limited to the locations at which Aboriginal people camped and efforts by local settlers to remove them. A Major Davidson, who had taken over part of Gardiner's station, complained about an encampment of Aborigines on his land near Gardiner's Creek in 1845 (McWilliam 1978: 2), while James Pinnock, one of the early land buyers in Hawthorn who purchased land north of present-day Burwood Road, noted in his diary in 1852:

"A lot of blacks in the paddock all night making a fire. Sent McDonald to send them away but they would not go" (in McFarlane 2000: 13).

McWilliam (1978: 2) notes that this paddock was in the area of Creswick Street in Hawthorn, just below 'The Hawthorns', the Gothic Revival house built for Pinnock in 1845. It was also at this time that references to the murder of Aboriginal man Booby in Boroondara occur. As discussed in the Stage One report, Booby was a Barrabool man who ‘either worked for a squatter in the Pyrenees Ranges (Cannon 1995:81) or for Mr. Leslie Foster at Keilor (Fels 1988:103). He was a member of a party that was attacked by four Aboriginal men on Watson’s run five miles from Melbourne in late 1844 (Thomas; Journal 14/12/1844 in Clark 1990:319). Booby was speared and killed on the banks of the Yarra, just south of present day Burwood Road in Hawthorn. The approximate location of the attack is listed by Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV Site No. 8.2-17). 3.4 1850s- By the 1850s, an Aboriginal presence in Boroondara is generally referred to in the past tense. James Bonwick's contemporary “A Sketch of Boroondara” (1858: 12), notes the presence of Aboriginal people near Dights Falls, Yarra Bend:

“The Falls was formerly a favorite place of Native Corobory. Friendly Tribes assembled at the full moon, and shook their limbs in unison to the tum-tum of swarthy charmers”

Indeed, most sources claim that after the 1850s, Aboriginal people were rarely seen in Boroondara. Both Colles (1910) and Smith (1896) comment on this, with Colles (1910: 11) noting that the decline in Aboriginal population had begun much earlier:

"And so it went on with the race, ever dwindling, until 1846 we find that for every birth among the native tribes there occurred eight deaths. The numbers had even at that date greatly diminished from the estimate of the black population at the inception of the settlement...".

Colles noted that all traces of Aboriginal people had disappeared from Hawthorn since the 1850s and considered the decline in part a result of "...a taste for strong drink" on the part of the Aborigines, which lead to an increase in heart disease. Smith was more circumspect; in referring to the Yarra tribe, he states:

"For many years after the advent of the white man this tribe used to roam about; but their numbers rapidly grew less, if tradition be correct not without the aid of those who had taken forcible possession of the soil. Dark tales are told of ambuscades and reckless shootings, while hints of flour poisoned with arsenic are rife. Whether these had any foundation in fact, it is impossible to tell; but certain it is that at the end of twenty short years many hundreds of aboriginals had gone..." (Smith 1896: 12).

Peel et al (1993: 10) state that the remaining Aborigines of Boroondara eventually ended up at Coranderrk, a 2000 hectare station at Healesville that opened in 1863:



"Here, the remaining members of the Victorian tribes, including the Wurundjeri, were herded together into a village-style settlement where their nomadic lifestyle was forcibly replaced with farming".

Smiths earlier notes corroborate this: "As time advanced, the members of the tribe gradually grew less and less,

and there is now a very small remnant at the reserve at Correnderrk..." (Smith 1896: 13)

In what is perhaps the last clear historical reference in the listed sources to Aborigines in Boroondara, Charles Fysh, a Hawthorn diarist, also recorded that few people recalled Aborigines in Hawthorn after the 1850s, but stated that he had seen some when fishing at (perhaps ironically) Gardiner's Creek in 1869 (McWilliam 1978: 2).



4.0 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND Stage 1 of the Indigenous Heritage Study for the City of Boroondara (TerraCulture 2002) involved a literature review, including a listing of any archaeological investigations undertaken in the area. There has been limited archaeological investigation undertaken in the Boroondara region itself. Investigations have generally been broad-scale studies along the Yarra River and its tributaries (Hall 1989, Murphy 2000), in the Melbourne Metropolitan areas (Presland 1983, du Cros and Rhodes 1998), and in the Yarra Valley (Witter and Upcher 1977). A conservation management plan for a scarred tree has also been carried out (Hughes 2000). These archaeological reports are reviewed here in detail. 4.1 Previous Archaeological Investigations Witter, D. C. and Upcher, C. M. 1977 Witter and Upcher were commissioned by Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works to provide recommendations for archaeological sites which will be affected by the proposed Yarra Valley Metropolitan Park. The park will cover an area of the Yarra Valley between Burke Road bridge at Ivanhoe and Pound Bend at Warrandyte. The aim was to locate Aboriginal archaeological sites and associated artefacts within the proposed location for the park (Witter and Upcher 1977:1). For the purposes of the archaeological survey, the study area was divided into five physiographic features, including river channel, flood plain, terraces, valley slopes and upland hills (Witter and Upcher 1977: 3-4). Four lithic sites, twenty Aboriginal scarred trees (one previously recorded) and a single ground stone axe were located during the survey (Witter and Upcher 1977: 1). Management proposals for the Yarra Valley Survey area included a salvage study for scarred trees, intensive systematic collection of lithic sites, monitoring of sites and protection of sites (Witter and Upcher 1977:15). Presland, G. 1983 Gary Presland undertook an archaeological survey of the Melbourne Metropolitan area, including the Yarra River and the City of Boroondara, for the Victorian Archaeological Survey. The aims of the study were as follows:

• To develop a practical and economic strategy for surveying prehistoric archaeological sites in the study area • To identify areas of potential archaeological importance in the study area, • To identify those parts of the study area where archaeological surveys can be conducted effectively, • To implement a pilot survey program and evaluate its effectiveness • To prepare comprehensive proposals for future surveys of archaeological sites in the study area. • To prepare comprehensive proposals for future surveys of prehistoric archaeological sites in the study area

The study area was divided into five separate landscape units based upon factors including geology, topography, vegetation, and hydrology (Presland 1983: 4). Melbourne city comprises Landscape Unit 1. Landscape Unit 1 was classified as a flat plain including the alluvial fans, terraces and valleys of the Yarra and Maribyrnong Rivers (Presland 1983:5). Landscape Unit 1 takes in the entire length of the Yarra River (Presland 1983:5) and covers a large portion of Melbourne, including Boroondara. The aims of the field survey component of the study were to identify those parts of the study area which have a high archaeological potential and/or interest, to identify areas and recorded sites within the study area which are under threat due to impending development, and to record sites discovered during the field surveys (for further detail refer to Presland 1983:41). A total of 40 sites were recorded or re-recorded during the surveys of all landscape units, with scarred trees and stone artefact scatters being the most common site type (Presland 1983: 74). Ten sites were located during the survey of Landscape Unit 1. These sites consist of six scarred trees and four isolated artefact scatters.



Sites were located close to Carrum Swamp and on the Maribyrnong River (Presland 1985:55). A series of detailed recommendations were made for the study area and included site management procedures for recorded sites and future archaeological studies for the study area. Hall, R. 1989 In 1989 Hall carried out a study with the aim of providing a description and interpretation of the archaeology of Merri Creek and the basic information necessary for making management and research decisions in regards to the archaeological resource base (Hall 1989:ii). The study area followed the Merri Creek corridor from Whittlesea to Collingwood, and also included the Yarra River/Merri Creek junction in Collingwood. The study was commissioned by the Merri Creek Bicentennial Committee, and specific aims were as follows:

• To carry out a survey of archaeological sites within the Merri Creek Parklands • To document and interpret sites in terms of the region’s history and previous archaeological work • To assess the scientific and cultural significance of recorded sites • To provide recommendations on the management and protection of recorded sites and for their interpretation to the public (Hall 1989: 2).

21 stone artefact scatters and five scarred trees were identified during the survey (Hall 1989: 2). The report includes detailed documentation of the sites recorded during the survey, including analysis of the stone artefacts located. Photographs of known Aboriginal archaeological and historical sites along the creek are also included. Du Cros, H. and Rhodes, D. 1998 Du Cros and Rhodes were commissioned by Melbourne Water Commission to report on archaeology along the waterways of the Melbourne area, including the Yarra River. The Waterway and Drainage Group within Melbourne Water was required to plan for a variety of developments and improvements to waterways and floodplains in order to meet its waterway management and regional drainage responsibilities. The aim of the project was to provide an overview assessment of waterway and floodplain areas across greater Melbourne with regard to their sensitivity for Aboriginal cultural material (du Cros and Rhodes 1998:1.2). The areas of archaeological sensitivity were formulated from the background information and the site distribution patterns revealed by generalities in the site prediction models in use around Melbourne (du Cros and Rhodes 1998:1.4). These areas were classified as waterways or floodplains of high or unknown sensitivity, as described below.

• Waterways of potential high sensitivity (those known or predicted to have high sensitivity levels and which are largely unmodified), • Waterways of unknown potential or integrity (those which have little recorded sensitivity, possible due to the lack of survey work and which have unknown levels of disturbance),

• Floodplains of potential high sensitivity (those known or predicted to have high sensitivity levels and which are largely unmodified),

• Floodplains of unknown potential or integrity (those which have little recorded sensitivity, possible due to lack of survey work and which have unknown levels of disturbance)

• Areas of known high sensitivity (areas with known cultural values) (du Cros and Rhodes

1998: Executive Summary). The Yarra River and Merri Creek were identified as being waterways of high sensitivity. Waterways of high sensitivity were defined as being those known or predicted to have high



sensitivity levels and which are largely unmodified (du Cros and Rhodes 1998: 1.4). The Yarra River, in particular, has important evidence of Aboriginal occupation for the period after European settlement (du Cros and Rhodes 1998: 2.1.3). For waterways of potential high sensitivity, it was recommended that all waterway works are preceded by a full survey to locate, assess and make management recommendations for any cultural material found, or likely to occur, within the affected area (du Cros and Rhodes 1998: 3.0). Hughes, S. 2000 Hughes’ 2000 report documents an Aboriginal scarred tree located in Hawthorn. Two registered Aboriginal scarred trees in the area are also described (the Burnley Park Corroboree Tree and a scarred tree located elsewhere in Hawthorn). Hughes’ report contains an existing condition report on the tree and a detailed listing of possible threats to the site. Recommendations included a range of conservation treatment options. Hughes also made recommendations that the site be included on the Aboriginal Affairs site register. However, it appears that the site was registered at this time and Hughes did not realise this as there are some discrepancies in the Aboriginal affairs registry information (see Section 6.1 below). Murphy, A. 2000 Melbourne Water Corporation commissioned Murphy to conduct a preliminary cultural heritage assessment of a section of Koonung Creek extending between Bowen Road and Darvall Street, Donvale. While this survey did not extend into the current study area, Koonung Creek runs through Boroondara adjacent to the Eastern Freeway in Balwyn North, and contains similar disturbance to the creek line. Melbourne Water intended to conduct creek bank rehabilitation work in the Koonung Creek area. Prior to this investigation no cultural heritage sites had been previously recorded within the study area (Murphy 2000: I). One of the aims of the study was to conduct and archaeological site survey to determine whether any Aboriginal or historic sites, artefacts or cultural deposits exist within the study area (Murphy 2000: 1). No Aboriginal archaeological sites were located during the archaeological survey, and it was determined that the immediate banks of Koonung Creek had low potential for archaeological material due to the disturbed nature of the creek line. The northern hill slope of Koonung Creek was considered to have moderate potential for surface and/or subsurface Aboriginal archaeological material (Murphy 2000: I). Based on the results of the study, several recommendations were made in regards to the study area including monitoring in areas of potential archaeological sensitivity (Murphy 2000: II).



5.0 TIMELINE OF EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT AND URBANISATION OF BOROONDARA As part of developing both an effective survey strategy and a site prediction model, it was felt necessary to undertake some research into the European settlement of the Boroondara area and subsequent urbanisation of the municipality. It was felt that this would aid in placing the known and predicted Aboriginal heritage values in full context. As the timeline below shows, the City of Boroondara is highly urbanised and the growth of residential areas has been occurring throughout most of the city since at least the 1850s and in earnest since the 1880s. 1830s 1837 - John Gardiner takes up land near the Junction of Gardiner's Creek and the Yarra River 1837 - Hawthorn township reserve surveyed 1840s 1840 - John Hodgson takes squatting licence over 'Studley Park' - Kew 1841 - Henry Elgar's Special Survey - 8 square miles at northeastern corner of Boroondara subdivided into small farms and grazing runs. 1843 – farm sized allotments surveyed in Hawthorn 1845 – “The Hawthorns” built, Creswick Street, Hawthorn 1845 - Camberwell area occupied for grazing 1850s During the 1850s Crown Land Sales in Kew were predominantly allotments of between 15 and 80 hectares, though one large parcel of 495 hectares was sold off in quarter hectare Streets were laid out during this period. 1851 – Construction of Burwood Road 1852 - “Invergowrie” Homestead and land settled, Hawthorn Hotel in Barton Street, Hawthorn, built 1853 – Gothic Revivalist Church and Hawthorn Primary School built, Hawthorn 1853 - Inn erected at Camberwell Junction 1854 - two hotels erected in Kew - one at Kew Junction and one at the Corner of Harp Road and High Street 1854 - Congregationalist Church, Kew 1855 - Baptist Church, Kew 1855 – The Governor Hotham Hotel on William Street built, Hawthorn 1856 - Methodist Church, Kew 1856 - Anglican School, Kew 1858 - Johnston Street Bridge connects Kew to Collingwood and the city 1858 - Camberwell school opens in Hartwell area. The school closes soon after this date 1858 - Anglican Church, Kew 1860s 1861 – Construction of the Burnley to Hawthorn Railway extension 1861 - Kew population reaches 1,439 1862 - Camberwell Post Office 1862 - Two small settlements in Camberwell arise - one at the Junction and the other at Hartwell 1864 – Presbyterian Church, Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn 1865 - Glen Iris Methodist Church 1865 – Hawthorn Town Hall, market gardens, residences, businesses and brick fields were all built by 1865 1867 - Camberwell school opens at the Junction



1869 – The Railway Hotel, Hawthorn, opens 1870s During this decade many residences and shops appear in Hawthorn. Camberwell is now an area of small farms with fine villa residences at the northern end. 1871 – “Invergowrie” land in Hawthorn subdivided by George Coppin 1872 - school opens at Glen Iris 1876 - Horse Tram from Hawthorn railway station to Kew 1876 - Kew Population reaches 2,429 1876 – Tower Hotel, Camberwell Road, Hawthorn, opens 1880s The 1880s sees residences continue to be built at a rapid pace in Hawthorn 1882 – Railway extension to Upper Hawthorn and Glenferrie is constructed 1882 - Extension of Railway from Hawthorn to Camberwell, to the north of the existing Camberwell settlement at the junction 1882 - general store at Glen Iris 1883 - railway line extended from Camberwell to Lilydale 1886 - Horse tram from Kew Cemetery to cable tram on the other side of the river in Collingwood 1886 - Surrey Hills primary school opens; two churches and post office are already present in Surrey Hills, but area still predominantly rural 1886 - Growth of Burke Road shopping centre from the junction to the station 1886 - Stimulation of residential subdivision in Camberwell and Canterbury 1887 - Railway spur line replaces horse tram from Hawthorn to Kew. Operates until 1957 1890s This decade saw the suburbanisation of Camberwell 1890 – Horse tram service to Hawthorn becomes available 1891 - Kew Population reaches 8,462 1890 - Auburn primary school opens 1891 - All of Canterbury subdivided but not built on 1891 - Outer-circle rail line through Kew, Canterbury, Camberwell, Glen Iris and Ashburton opens, designed to stimulate residential growth but passenger services cease twoyears later 1897 – Grace Park, Hawthorn, opens 1897 - Subdivision of the northern part of Hawthorn East 1897 - Railway line from Burnley to Oakley via the Gardiners Creek Valley, with three stations in Glen Iris 1900-1920 1903 - Surrey Hills Population is now approximately 1000 1911 - Camberwell Population reaches 12,551 1913 - 1915 - New tram lines in High Street, Cotham Road and Glenferrie Roads in Kew 1916 - New tram line along Burke Road, Camberwell 1916 – 1920 - Electric tramline opens along Burwood Road, Power Street and Riversdale 1916 – 1920 - Road to Princes Bridge, Melbourne city. Due to the construction of thetramline with city access, many shops, factories (including Fowlers Bottling Company) open throughout Hawthorn 1920-1940 1921 - Kew Population 17,382 1925 - Auburn South primary school opens



1925 - Subdivision of the southern part of Hawthorn East 1928 - Ashburton primary school opens - Ashburton at this time mainly orchards and market gardens, with a few shops 1920 - 1940 – From the 1920s to the 1940s Hawthorn’s population increased dramatically from 25,000 to 40,000. By this time Hawthorn had many established homes, parks, and a shopping precinct centred around the railway station 1940s - present Most of Kew was developed by the 1940s, with the only undeveloped parts around Yarra Bend Park and near Stradbroke Park. 1948 - Extension of railway to Alamein allowing development around Ashburton - mainly by the Housing Commission 1970 - opening of South Eastern (Monash) Freeway to Glen Iris. Continuing development of the freeway along the Gardiners Creek Valley saw the creek extensively revegetated and modified. 1970s – During the 1970s many older Hawthorn residences were demolished to make way for flats. By 1981 45% of Hawthorns housing was flats.



6.0 SUMMARY AND IMPLICATIONS OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION 6.1 Registered Site Locations Aboriginal archaeological and Aboriginal historical sites within the City of Boroondara were listed and discussed briefly in Stage 1. During the Stage 1 investigation a search of the site register at Aboriginal Affairs Victoria was undertaken. The search revealed that there were, at the time of the study, eleven Aboriginal sites located within the City of Boroondara (See TerraCulture 2002: 13). Of the eleven sites, two were Aboriginal historic places (Booby’s Murder and the Honorary Correspondent Depot at Hawthorn) and nine were archaeological sites. All nine Aboriginal archaeological registered sites were scarred trees. All except for one of the scarred trees are located within parks or reserves adjacent to the Yarra River. 6.2 Ethnohistorical Evidence (Map 3)

As far as ethnohistorical evidence, several locations within the City of Boroondara are referred to, some frequently. These include the following;

• Gardiner’s Creek in general,

• Hill within the grounds of Xavier College, located near the corner of Barkers Road and Denmark Street, Kew,

• Area surrounding Creswick Street, Hawthorn,

• Area around former Methodist Church, Oxley Road, Hawthorn,

• Dights Falls, along the Yarra River, Kew

• Studley Park, Kew

• Land around Yarra Street in Hawthorn

Aside from the clear references to Gardiner’s Creek, Studley Park and Dights Falls (see Clark & Heydon 1998, McFarlane 2000, Bonwick 1858, Vaughn 1960, Smith 1896, and McWilliam 1978) the ethnographic references refer to hilltops and high points as the location of corroborrees (see Smith 1896 and Colles 1910). 6.3 Previous Archaeological Investigations (Map 4) A small number of studies, while not directly within the City of Boroondara itself, have assessed the archaeology of the waterways running through the area (see Section 4.0). These include broad-scale studies of the Melbourne Metropolitan area (Presland 1983), the Yarra Valley (Witter and Upcher 1977), the Yarra River (Hall 1989, Du Cros and Rhodes 1998), and Koonung Creek (Murphy 2000). These studies are reviewed in detail in Section 4.1, and revealed the following:

• Sites are common on the floodplains and terraces of the Yarra River (see Witter and Upcher 1977, Presland 1983), • Common site types in the Yarra Valley and adjacent to the Yarra River and other waterways are stone artefact scatters and scarred trees (see Witter and Upcher 1977, Presland 1989, Hughes 2000),

• The Yarra River was identified as being an area of high archaeological sensitivity, especially in areas which remained unmodified (du Cros and Rhodes 1998),



• Koonung Creek, which runs through the study area, was determined to be of low archaeological sensitivity due to its highly disturbed and landscaped nature (see Murphy 2000).

• All other waterways within the area should be seen as having unknown potential or

integrity as they have little recorded sensitivity, possibly due to the lack of survey work and hence have unknown levels of disturbance (see du Cros and Rhodes 1998),

6.4 Urbanisation The main inference to be drawn about urban growth and development is that it has severely impacted Aboriginal archaeological sites, both in terms of their presence and preservation. While this may appear obvious for those areas which have been the subject of residential development, background information on the urban development of Boroondara shows that certain parklands which may have initially been thought to be less disturbed and thus suitable for survey have also been dramatically altered since European settlement. For example, it is known that both Fritz Holzer Park and land around John Gardiner Reserve in Hawthorn East were formerly the locations of claypits for Brickworks (McWilliam 1978). Similarly, some linear parks such as Outer Circle Park in Balwyn and Boroondara Park in Canterbury are located along the former outer circle rail line. This does not mean that Aboriginal archaeological sites will not be located within these parks, but in the interest of an effective survey strategy those areas known to have been heavily disturbed during the historic period away from major waterways were discounted as survey locations at the outset. It is likely, however, that numerous other parks within the municipality have also undergone similar major modification during the historic period.



7.0 FIELD SURVEY AND RESULTS (Map 5) The main objective of the field survey was to target parks and reserves within the City of Boroondara. Parks and reserves remain as the only open spaces in Boroondara’s highly urbanised environment, and hence were the most obvious choice for the field survey component of this investigation. The field investigation involved two stages; 1. Reconaissance survey On the basis of known site distributions and the extensive open parklands along its course, the Yarra River Corridor was slated for detailed survey from the outset. However, other areas where pedestrian survey would be conducted were determined on the basis of a reconnaissance survey of the City of Boroondara. This was carried out by TerraCulture archaeologists Matt Chamberlain and Claire Nicholls on the 21st of January 2004. The reconnaissance involved the assessment of a sample of parklands and reserves away from the Yarra River corridor. In addition, three areas were visited simply on the basis that they had appeared in the Ethnohistorical references. The reconnaissance did not involve any actual ground survey of any the reserves; and was more a brief assessment of the level of ground visibility and disturbance. Survey areas were selected on the basis of the information gathered from background information, ground surface visibility, disturbance and landscaping, the location of previously recorded Aboriginal archaeological sites, and adjoining urban development. Detailed notes were taken on the areas assessed and photographs were also taken. 2. Field Survey TerraCulture archaeologists Matt Chamberlain and Claire Nicholls conducted the survey along with Tony Garvey representing the Wurundjeri Tribe Land Compensation and Cultural Heritage Council Inc. As noted above, on the basis of known archaeological values the Yarra River Corridor was selected as the most important area for detailed survey prior to any reconnaissance. The remaining locations were selected on the basis of the reconnaissance survey. The survey areas were assessed via a pedestrian survey. Due to extensive vegetation cover over each of the survey areas, an opportunistic survey strategy was adopted. Areas of adequate ground surface visibility, such as ground exposures adjacent to pathways and erosion patches on hill flanks were targeted and investigated thoroughly. Detailed notes were taken on the areas assessed and photographs were taken of each survey area. Any Aboriginal archaeological material was recorded according to AAV minimum standards. Details were kept on the distances walked, GPS readings and the size and type of any ground exposure. Aboriginal archaeological sites were defined using AAV procedures. A detailed photographic record of the landscape itself and any sites located was also kept. The field assessment was based on surface indications of Aboriginal archaeological sites and did not involve any sub-surface testing for buried archaeological deposits. 7.1 Reconnaissance Survey Areas (Map 5) Methodist Church, Oxley Street, Hawthorn The survey area is situated in a suburban area with roads and residential development. The area was deemed unsuitable for further investigation due to the insufficient ground surface visibility and the highly disturbed nature of the landscape.



Creswick Street, Hawthorn Creswick Street is adjacent to Yarra Bank Reserve. The general area is highly urbanised, and Yarra Bank Reserve is landscaped. Xavier College, Kew Most of Xavier College was inaccessible, however most of the grounds surrounding the college appears to be highly disturbed due to extensive landscaping. The college also contains several car parks, recreational ovals and buildings. The area was deemed to be unsuitable for field survey due to the its highly modified and disturbed nature. Kew Residential Services – proposed development. This area comprises open parkland with vehicle and pedestrian tracks crossing the reserve. The ground surface visibility was very poor and limited to small exposures. The area is highly modified and landscaped with extensive grass cover throughout. Due to very poor ground surface visibility and heavy landscaping it was deemed unsuitable for further survey. Kew Cricket Ground and park (Victoria Park). Visibility was extremely poor due to grass cover, with some small ground surface exposures around trees and adjacent to walking tracks. The park has been heavily landscaped and modified, with a cricket ground to the north of the park. The area contains a number of older Eucalypt trees. Due to the poor ground surface visibility and highly disturbed nature of the cricket ground and the park was deemed unsuitable for further survey. Stradbroke Park – Corner Burke Road and Harp Road. The park has been heavily landscaped and there was generally no ground surface visibility with the exception of small erosion patches close to walking track. Due to the poor ground surface visibility and its highly modified nature, the area was deemed unsuitable for further survey. Hays Paddock Glass creek runs through the reserve, and has been modified by drainage construction in places. The ground surface visibility was generally very low, however exposures adjacent to gravel walking tracks, around trees and erosion patches provided the survey team with some visibility. Both sides of the creek were easily accessed. Due to its location adjacent to Glass Creek the area was deemed suitable for further survey. Myrtle Park Myrtle Park consists of heavily landscaped parkland with a series of ovals used for recreational purposes. The park is possibly situated in a former watercourse/swampland/depression. There was no ground surface visibility due to extensive grass cover. Due to the poor ground surface visibility and its highly modified nature, the park was deemed unsuitable for further survey. Hislop Reserve Hislop reserve comprises landscaped parkland and a series of ovals used for recreational purposes. Ground surface visibility was limited to surface exposures and erosion patches around trees. Due to the poor ground surface visibility and its highly disturbed nature, the reserve was deemed unsuitable for further survey.



Beckett Park Beckett Park is situated on a high hill overlooking the suburbs of Balwyn and Surrey Hills. A Lookout tower is situated towards the center of the park on the crest of the hill. The park contains a small section of native bush land and grassland, which is fenced off. Despite the poor ground surface visibility, the park was deemed to be suitable for further survey due to the section of bush land. The park was also selected for further survey because of its locality on a high hill overlooking the suburbs below. Belmont Park A highly landscaped parkland with large lawn/grassed areas used for recreational purposes. There was extremely poor ground surface visibility throughout the park. Due to the lack of ground surface visibility and its highly landscaped nature, Belmont Park was deemed unsuitable for further survey. Cooper Reserve The reserve comprises gently undulating terrain and is located in a slight depression at the end of Hercules creek. The park is heavily landscaped and contains an open oval used for recreational purposes. Ground surface visibility was extremely poor. Due to the poor ground surface visibility and the highly disturbed nature of the area, Coopers Reserve was deemed unsuitable for further survey. Markham Reserve, Gardiners Creek A golf course is situated on the southern side of Gardiners Creek. The northern side of the creek is heavily grassed/regenerated native bushland. Visibility was limited to small patches of erosion. Due to the poor ground surface visibility and the highly disturbed nature of the area, Markham Reserve was deemed unsuitable for further survey. Hill n Dale Park Hill n Dale Park is possibly located on an old creek line (Back Creek or tributary thereof) and is moderately landscaped. Low ground surface visibility adjacent to paths. Due to the low ground surface visibility and the moderately disturbed nature of the area, the park was deemed unsuitable for further survey. H. A. Smith and Patterson Reserves - Gardiners Creek H. A. Smith and Patterson Reserves comprise a series of landscaped parklands with planted natives and exotic species. The parks are used for recreational purposes and ground surface visibility was very poor. Due to the poor ground surface visibility and the modified nature of the area, the reserves were deemed unsuitable for further survey. 7.2 Field Survey Results (Map 5) Kew Billabong (Plate 1) The survey area comprises gently undulating terrain surrounding a billabong adjoining the Yarra River to the west. The land rises slightly toward the Eastern Freeway to the south of the survey area. A small, landscaped reserve, Willsmere Chandler Park, and the Green Acres Golf Club are situated to the east of the billabong. Currently the subject land is used as a public open space and contains regenerated native vegetation and landscaped gardens/lawns used for recreational purposes. Thick native bushland occurs around the billabong, which is fenced off in some areas next to walking tracks. Walking and bicycle tracks encircle the billabong and cross the park toward the Yarra River. While any areas of good ground surface visibility were assessed, the survey of Kew Billabong and surrounds concentrated on the banks of the billabong and ground surface exposures along the sides of



walking tracks where visibility was adequate. Large trees were also checked for any evidence of Aboriginal scarring. Kew Billabong to Yarra Bend (Plate 2) The survey area comprised gently undulating terrain, rising slightly to the east adjacent to the Eastern Freeway. The subject land consists of landscaped and grassed areas marked by small pockets of native bushland, particularly in a small band adjacent to the Yarra River. Walking and bicycle tracks follow the course of the Yarra River. Currently the survey area is used as a recreational area. The survey focused on the banks of the Yarra River where erosion had caused small areas of the ground to become exposed. Ground surface exposures adjacent to walking tracks and on hill slopes were also targeted. Large trees were also checked for any evidence of Aboriginal scarring. Yarra Bend Park and Studley Park Boathouse (Plates 3 to 7) The survey area comprised undulating, hilly terrain with steep cliff embankments along some sections of the Yarra River. Grassed/lawn areas are used for recreational purposes. There are also areas of bushland, with large river red gums along the banks of the Yarra. A dirt walking track cut into the side of the river bank runs through native bushland. Other gravel and bitumen walking tracks cross the park. Visibility throughout the survey area was very poor and limited to exposures along the banks of river, around the base of trees adjacent to walking tracks and paths. Exposures on the flanks of steeper hills also provided the survey team with good ground surface visibility. A picnic area with barbeque facilities and public conveniences are located adjacent to the Studley Park Boat House. This area has been extensively modified with bitumen paving and landscaping. Large trees were also checked for any evidence of Aboriginal scarring. One Aboriginal archaeological site was located during the survey Dickinson Reserve (Plates 8 and 9) Dickinson Reserve comprises slightly undulating terrain with landscaped gardens and lawns used for recreational purposes. The area has been highly modified and disturbed by landscaping. Gravel walking tracks cross the reserve and a dirt path runs adjacent to the Yarra River. Ground surface visibility was generally very poor throughout the subject land due to grass cover and was limited to exposures around the base of trees. Large trees were checked for any evidence of Aboriginal scarring. Hays Paddock (Plates 10 to 12) The survey area consists of gently undulating terrain and is surrounded by suburban residential development. Glass Creek runs through the reserve in a north-south direction before terminating at Kilby Road. The creek has been extensively modified due to landscaping, drainage construction and waterway improvement works (including the re-planting of native vegetation on both sides of the creek). The reserve contains bitumen car parks, several gravel paths, play grounds, picnic areas, sports ovals, and a landscaped wetland/billabong. Some native vegetation and grassland still exists, which is possibly replanted/regenerated. Generally there was very low ground surface visibility, however ground surface exposures adjacent to gravel walking tracks, around trees and erosion patches provided the survey team with some visibility. Both sides of the creek were easily accessed. Koonung Creek – Bulleen Road to Doncaster Road, North Balwyn (Plate 13) The focus of the survey was the Koonung Creek Reserve, which follows the Eastern Freeway to Balwyn. The reserve comprises slightly undulating terrain with landscaped parkland and a series of pathways. The subject land is dominated by landscaped and grassed areas which continue along the length of the creek, with replanted native vegetation in some areas. The



reserve is used for recreational purposes. Ground surface visibility was extremely poor throughout the reserve due to grass cover. Beckett Park (Plate 14) Beckett Park is located on the crest of a hill rise overlooking suburbs of Balwyn and Surry Hills below. The Yarra River can also be seen from the hill. The park is situated in a suburban residential area and contains a lookout tower, parking areas, recreational area (BBQ and playground), small botanical gardens (Maranoa Gardens), and a fenced off Gum and Kangaroo grass woodland re-vegetation area. Ground surface visibility was poor due to dense vegetation cover and limited to small exposures on the crest and flanks of the hill. Fairview Park to Wallen Reserve (Plate 15 and 16) The survey area is located on the Yarra River floodplain between the river itself and residential development on higher ground to the north and east. The area has been extensively modified, with landscaped garden/lawn areas, paved pathways, and play grounds. The banks of the Yarra River have also been heavily disturbed and are lined with stone or cement in places. The park is located in a residential area adjacent to the Yarra. Visibility across the survey area was generally poor, however there were a number of large surface exposures on open recreational areas probably caused by frequent sporting activities. Large River Red Gums were located along the banks of the river. These were checked for evidence of Aboriginal scarring.



8.0 CONCLUSIONS AND SITE PREDICTION MODEL 8.1 Summary of Results

• One new site - a scarred tree - has been registered within the Boroondara municipality. This brings the total number of registered Aboriginal archaeological sites within the City of Boroondara to ten.

• Portions of Yarra Bend Park, including the Studley Park area, were surveyed in

detail. The results indicate that this park is far less disturbed than other sections of the Yarra River surveyed during this investigation. Yarra Bend Park extends from Dickinson Reserve in the south to the Chandler Highway in the North and contains one registered site. Six other registered sites are located in close proximity to the park.

• Large stretches of the Yarra River within the City of Boroondara were surveyed in

detail and these have been substantially modified and disturbed by both public and private development. The stretch from Yarra Bend Park to Kew Billabong is largely landscaped and disturbed by Freeway construction, while other reserves such as Dickinson Reserve, Wallen Road Reserve and Fairview Reserve are also modified and landscaped.

• Sections of Koonung Creek were surveyed in detail. The results show that this

creek has been heavily modified, particularly by the construction of the Eastern Freeway.

• Gardiners Creek has been heavily modified, especially by the construction of the

Monash Freeway, channeling work dating back to the early twentieth century and landscaping of surrounding reserves, but was not surveyed in detail.

• A large portion of Glass Creek was surveyed in detail, and this waterway has

been heavily disturbed, landscaped and modified.

• Most of the locations referred to in the Ethnohistorical references have also been heavily modified and disturbed by suburban residential development. Only the Dights Falls/Studley Park area remains in an area that is relatively less disturbed.

• Most parks and reserves away from the major stream courses visited during this

survey have been significantly modified through the removal of vegetation, landscaping, levelling, and building construction. Only one of these parks was surveyed in detail, but no Aboriginal archaeological material was recorded.

8.2 Discussion and Site Prediction Model (Map 6) 8.2.1 Discussion of Ethnohistoric References The ethnohistoric sources clearly state that the Aboriginal population of Boroondara was in decline from the earliest period of European settlement, and particularly from the 1840s onwards. These references point out that illness and disease, conflict and displacement hit the Aboriginal people of the Boroondara area, and by the 1860s most Aboriginal people were residing at reserves like Coranderrk. This decline is also evident in the location of areas appearing in the ethnohistorical sources. Map 4 shows that most of the ethnohistorical locations are in those areas settled earliest by Europeans. There are no ethnohistorical references in those suburbs and localities that grew later, particularly in the east and south of the municipality. It should be noted that there is a relative lack of ethnohistorical information - both written and visual - for the Boroondara area. There is a comparatively large range of sources for general



localities which may have included Boroondara; particularly references to Melbourne or the Yarra River in general, but none are specific enough to be assumed to belong to the Boroondara area specifically. This highlights the difficulty of dealing with historical sources within the context of a modern municipal boundary. 8.2.2 Site Prediction In an area as highly urbanised as the City of Boroondara, predicting the location of unknown Aboriginal archaeological sites is highly problematic. Therefore, perhaps the clearest way to proceed is to discuss areas in terms of their potential archaeological sensitivity. Several areas had been highlighted in previous investigations (see Section 4.1) as being of high, low or unknown sensitivity, so these areas have been addressed first. The previous archaeological investigations suggested that the Yarra River is an area of high archaeological sensitivity, particularly in areas that remained unmodified. The results of the current investigation confirm this. Some of the surveyed areas along the Yarra River have been landscaped and modified. Nevertheless, there are a number of registered sites along the Yarra corridor, both within Boroondara and in adjoining municipalities. The course of the Yarra through Boroondara is also bordered by large areas of open space, some of which are relatively less disturbed and modified, particularly in the north of the city. For these reasons the Yarra River corridor throughout Boroondara should be seen as having moderate to high archaeological sensitivity. For the northern portion of the city, the Yarra corridor of sensitivity is delineated by existing parkland, but for all other areas the band of sensitivity should be considered to include all areas within 200 metres of the Yarra River bank. As noted above, Yarra Bend Park (including the area known as Studley Park) is a large and relatively less disturbed park along the Yarra River in the northwestern corner of the City of Boroondara. There are now seven Aboriginal archaeological sites clustered in and around the park. There are also numerous references to the use of the area by Aboriginal people (Chapter 3), including the importance of the Dights Falls area as a Corroboree area and Studley Park as a camping area during the early 1840s. The lack of substantial disturbance also increases the likelihood that in situ archaeological deposits may be present within the park. When these factors are considered, Yarra Bend Park should be seen as an area of high archaeological sensitivity and as the most sensitive area for Aboriginal archaeological sites within the municipality. The fact that only one site was recorded in the park during the field component of this investigation can be attributed to poor ground surface visibility and the dense bush land that characterises the park. Koonung Creek had been described as being of low archaeological sensitivity on the basis of investigations outside the City of Boroondara that suggested that this waterway was considerably altered and disturbed. The results of this investigation confirm this for the course of the creek within the City of Boroondara. Surveyed areas along Koonung Creek are alongside the Eastern Freeway, where the watercourse itself has become little more than an underground drain bordered by the heavily landscaped Koonung Creek Reserve. Under these circumstances, any Aboriginal archaeological material present is likely to also be heavily disturbed and dispersed. Koonung Creek should therefore be seen as being of low archaeological sensitivity. On the basis of a report by du Cros and Rhodes (1998 see Section 4.1), the remaining existing waterways within the city (Gardiners Creek, Glass Creek) were defined as being of unknown archaeological potential. The results of the survey suggest that both are of low sensitivity for Aboriginal archaeological sites. While Gardiners Creek was not surveyed in detail, the reserves alongside the creek visited during the reconnaissance survey are heavily modified and landscaped. Previous investigations have been conducted along the creek within or adjoining the City of Boroondara (Brown 1995) and these have not recorded any archaeological sites and have also highlighted the disturbed nature of the creek. Glass Creek has also been heavily disturbed. The course of the creek itself has been lined with rock and concrete in various areas and the surrounds have been landscaped and converted into playing fields and the like. As was noted for Koonung Creek, the types of disturbance present



along Gardiners and Glass Creeks is likely to have dispersed any archaeological material present. No other predictive statements were made for the remainder of the municipality. As was noted in Section 7.0, the parks and reserves within the municipality were the object of the surveys. All of the parks visited during the reconnaissance survey, however, exhibited a high degree of modification, while others were known to have undergone substantial disturbance during the historic period, and were thus not visited. Only one park away from the river corridors was the subject of detailed survey and no sites were recorded. This park has also been modified. While it is not known whether all parks within the City of Boroondara have been modified, the results of the surveys indicate that, like Koonung, Gardiners and Glass Creeks, other parks and reserves within the municipality have undergone the types of disturbance that will have dispersed and Aboriginal archaeological material that may have been present. These reserves should therefore be seen as being of low sensitivity for Aboriginal archaeological sites. Those areas away from the major waterways mentioned in the ethnohistorical information were also visited. Most of these occur in highly urbanised areas where large-scale ground disturbance has occurred, and once again is likely to have dispersed any Aboriginal archaeological material that may have been present. As for the urbanised areas of the municipality in general, it is likely that the construction of infrastructure and housing and the associated clearance and leveling of the landscape, has disturbed, dispersed, and buried any archaeological material present, and/or otherwise created a situation whereby any such material is unlikely to be found. Ultimately it cannot be stated that areas will not contain Aboriginal archaeological sites. It is more appropriate to state that in all areas of the municipality away from the Yarra Corridor and particularly Yarra Bend Park, there is some potential for locating Aboriginal archaeological sites, but as a result of severe disturbance and modification resulting from the urbanisation of the city, these sites are likely to occur in low densities and in disturbed contexts.

Plate 1: Walking track adjacent to Kew Billabong. Note the thick bushland and low ground surface visibility

Plate 2: Walking track adjacent to the Yarra River, alongside the Eastern Freeway, west of Kew Billabong. Note the poor ground surface visibility

Plate 3: Yarra Bend Park. Ground surface visibility was limited to walking tracks beside the Yarra River

Plate 4: Yarra Bend Park adjacent to the Yarra River

Plate 5: Walking track alongside the Yarra River, Yarra Bend Park. Note the dense bushland. Ground surface visibility was limited to exposures adjacent to the walking track and around the bases of larger trees

Plate 6: Hilly terrain in Yarra Bend Park. Exposures on the flanks of steeper hills provided the survey team with good ground surface visibility

Plate 7: Walking tracks in Yarra Bend Park

Plate 8: Dickinson Reserve. Ground surface visibility was generally poor throughout the survey area, and limited to exposures around the bases of trees

Plate 9: Walking track adjacent to the Yarra River, Dickinson Reserve. Note the dense bushland

Plate 10: Hays Paddock. Note the ground surface exposures adjacent to the pathways.

Plate 11: Hays Paddock. The park has been extensively landscaped. Some areas of native vegetation exist along Glass Creek

Plate 12: Glass Creek, Hays Paddock. The creek has been extensively modified due to landscaping, drainage construction, and waterway improvement works

Plate 13: Koonung Creek Reserve. The reserve follows the Eastern Freeway. The reserve is dominated by landscaped areas, grassed areas, and small areas of replanted native vegetation. Ground surface visibility was very poor throughout the area

Plate 14: Beckett Park is a high point and overlooks the suburbs below. The Yarra River can also be seen from the park. Visibility was limited to small exposures on the crest and flanks of the hill

Plate 15: Fairview Park. The park runs alongside the Yarra River to join Wallen Reserve. The park has been extensively modified and the banks of the river have been highly disturbed

Plate 16: Fairview Park. While visibility was generally poor, there was a number of large ground surface exposures on open recreational areas. These provided the survey team with good ground surface visibility

APPENDIX 1

Annotated Bibliography

Primary Sources

Reference Description

Aborigines Progressive Association 1841 Reference to Aboriginal land use in the Melbourne area. No directAborigines of Port Philip [sic] Extracts, papers and proceedings. References to Aboriginal people in the Boorondara area.Aborigines Protection Society 11:28.

Blackhouse, J. 1843 A Narrative of a visit to the Australian Colonies. General references to indigenous people around Melbourne. No specificHamilton Adams and Co.: London. references to Boorondara.

Bride, T.F. 1969 (1898). Letters From Victorian Pioneers. References to Woi wurrung; Yarra Tribe traditions and incidents inHeinemann: Melbourne. the Melbourne area. No direct references to Aboriginal people in the

Boorondara area, general references to Woi wurrung only.Cannon, M. (ed) 1982Historical Records of Victoria. Foundation Series. Volumes 1-6. References to Woi wurrung; Yarra Tribe traditions and incidents inVictorian Government Printing Office: Melbourne. the Melbourne area and Merri Creek. No direct references to Boorondara.

Clark, I. D. (ed) 2000 References to Woi wurrung; Yarra Tribe traditions and incidents inThe Journals of George Augustus Robinson, Chief Protector, Port the Melbourne area and Merri Creek. References to Jacky Jacky’s mobPhillip Aboriginal Protectorate. Heritage Matters: Melbourne. located on the south bank of the Yarra, from Gardiners Creek to Yarra

Flats and the northern slopes of the Dandenong Mountains (referencedas Barwick 1984: 124).

Shillinglaw, J. J. 1972 (1879) References to seeing Aboriginal people in the Port Phillip area. DoesHistorical Records of Port Phillip. Heinemann: Melbourne. not mention specific areas where Aboriginal people were sighted. No

references to Boorodara.

Thomas, W. Journals and undated memoirs. In Bride, T. F., References to Woi wurrung; Yarra Tribe; Wurundjeri traditions and 1969 (1898). Letters from Victorian Pioneers. Heinemann: Melbourne incidents in the Melbourne area. No specific references to Boorondara. . References to Aboriginal people on the Yarra River.

Thomas, W. Journals and undated memoirs. In Cannon, M. (ed) References to Woi wurrung; Yarra Tribe; Wurundjeri traditions and1982. Historical Records of Victoria. Foundation Series Volume 2A. incidents in the Melbourne area. Recounts the story of AboriginalThe Aborigines of Port Phillip 1835-39. Victorian Government Printing people allegedly stealing potatoes from John Gardiner’s property near

Office: Melbourne. Gardiners Creek (pp. 213-214).

Thomas, W. Journal and undated memoirs. In Cannon, M. (Ed) 1983 Refereces to Woi wurrung; Yarra Tribe; Wurundjeri traditions andHistorical Records of Victoria. Foundation Series. Volume 2B. incidents in the Melbourne area. Only general information and noAborigines and Public Records Office 1838-1839. Victoria Government specific references to the Boorondara area.Printing Office: Melbourne

Thomas, W. n.d. ‘Noteboook’ (Unpublished original manuscript). In R. B. References to Woi wurrung; Yarra Tribe; Wurundjeri traditions andSmyth Papers Box 1176/6a, La Trobe Library: Melbourne. incidents in the Melbourne area.

Thomas, W. n.d. Private Papers. 16 Vols. And 8 boxes of papers, References to Woi wurrung; Yarra Tribe; Wurundjeri culture andLetterbooks, reports etc. Uncatalogued MSS, set 214, items 1-24. and traditions.Mitchell Library: Sydney.

Secondary Sources


Bonwick, J. 1856. Discovery and Settlement of Port Phillip: being a General references to Indigenous people around Melbourne.History of the country now called Victoria, up to the arrival of Mr. Discusses contact with Aboriginal people in Port Phillip Bay, focusingSuperintendant La Trobe, in October 1839. George Robertson: Melbourne. on the Geelong and Werribee regions. Descriptions of relationships

between Aboriginal people and early settlers in the Port Phillip region. No specific references to Boorondara.

Bonwick, J. 1857. Early Days in Melbourne. J. J. Blundell: Melbourne. General references to Indigenous people around Melbourne and the PortPhillip Bay Region. No direct references to Boorondara.

Bonwick, J. 1883. Port Phillip Settlement. Sampson: London. General references to Indigenous people around Melbourne.Descriptions of Aboriginal people in the Port Phillip Bay area, particularlyIndented Head, Geelong, Werribee River, Merri Creek, Yarra River andGellibrand Harbour. No specific references to Boorondara.

Bonwick, J. 1968. A Sketch of Boorondara. References to the early European history of Boroondara, including a2nd Edition. Book Collectors Society of Australia: Melbourne. number of descriptions of encounters with Aboriginal people in the region.

This includes a description of Aboriginal people holding a corroboree at

Yarra Bend (P. 12), and sightings of Aboriginal people near the junction ofthe Yarra and Gardiner’s Creek (p. 14-15).

Clark, I. D. and Heydon, T. 2002. Dictionary of Aboriginal Placenames Brief descriptions of Aboriginal placenames including Boorondara (noof Victoria. Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages and Specific meaning given) and the Yarra River.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.

Colles, C. G. A. 1910. History of Hawthorn. Citizen Printing works References to the early European settlement of Hawthorn. The Hawthorn. document includes an extensive description of the Aboriginal people of

the Boroondara region. Includes names of Aboriginal people, conflictsbetween the European settlers and Aboriginal people, and locationswhere corroborees and gatherings were held (pp. 8-11).

Fison, L. 1890. ‘The Aborigines of Victoria’. Handbook of the References to Woi wurrung; Yarra Tribe; Wurundjeri cultureAustralasian Society. Pp. 45-55. and traditions. Unable to obtain a copy to examine.

Howitt, A. W. 1904. The Native tribes of South-East Australia. McMillan: References to Woi wurrung; Yarra Tribe; WurundjeriLondon. culture and traditions. Brief references to Gardiners Creek

and the Wurundjeri (p. 72).

Smyth, R. B. 1878. The Aborigines of Victoria and other parts of Australia. References to Woi wurrung; Yarra Tribe; WurundjeriJohn Ferris: Melbourne. culture and traditions. No specific references to Boorondara.

Tindale, N. B. 1974. Aboriginal Tribes of Australia. Australian National References to Woi wurrung; Yarra Tribe; WurundjeriUniversity Press: Canberra. culture and traditions. Some details about Victorian tribes

But no specific areas mentioned.

Smith, A. N. 1896. The History of Hawthorn to 1895. Smith and Corrigan: Notes on the early settlement of Melbourne. AboriginalHawthorn. people mentioned generally. References to John Gardiner and the

Aboriginal people residing near where he chose to settle (p. 8). Alsorefers to the naming of Boorondara, which was named when JohnGardiner asked the Aboriginal people what they called the area (p. 8).References to Kooyongkoot Creek (re-named Gardiners Creek by JohnGardiner). Describes Aboriginal people stealing potatoes from JohnGardiner’s garden on his property at the junction of the Yarra River and

Gardiners Creek (p. 10-12).

Other Written Sources


Barwick, D. E. 1984. ‘Mapping the Past: An Atlas of Victorian Clans Reference to Wurundjeri willam clan and tribal organization.1835-1904. Part 1’. Aboriginal History 8:100-131. Discusses culture and traditions. Includes original sources.

Describes details of Woi wurrung clans, including location, moiety,clan names and clan heads.

Billis, R. V. and A. S. Kenyon. 1930. Pastures New: An Account of References to early pastoral occupation of the area. Only very generalThe Pastoral Occupation of Port Phillip. MacMillan: Melbourne. information on the Aboriginal people of the Melbourne area. No specific

references to Boorondara

Blainey, G. 1964. A History of Camberwell. Jacaranda Press: Notes on the early settlement of Melbourne. Aboriginal peopleMelbourne. mentioned generally. Only a very brief mention of Aboriginal

People in the Camberwell district and the naming of Boorondara,which translates as “shady place” (Blainey 1964: 1). Focuses onthe European settlement of Camberwell and the Boorondara district.

Bunce, D. 1971 (1859). Travels with Dr. Leichardt. Oxford University Small reference to Aboriginal people camping along Gardiners Creek.Press: Melbourne. (pp 66-67), and at the confluence of the Yarra River and Gardiners

Creek (p. 65). Most of the text deals with Aboriginal people in theDandenong Creek area.

Christie, M. F. 1979. Aborigines in Colonial Victoria. 1835-86. Sydney References to Aboriginal people throughout Victoria, with generalUniversity Press: Sydney. references to Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay. The formation of the

Merri Creek camp and school are discussed at length (pp. 143-139).

Clark, I. D and T. G. Heydon. 1998. The Confluence of the Merri Creek This report documents the results of historical research into AssistantAnd Yarra River. A History of the Western Port Aboriginal Protectorate Protector William Thomas’ Quarters at the Government Reserve, Merriand the Merri Creek Aboriginal School. A Report to the Heritage Services Creek, and the Merri Creek Aboriginal School, both of which were locatedBranch, Aboriginal Affairs Victoria. at the confluence of the Yarra River and Merri Creek in the 1840s.

The report provided the details of the history of the site, and collates

information on Aboriginal people who frequented the school and thestation. Includes references to Aboriginal people camping along the YarraRiver and in Studley Park (pp. 63 and 79).

Daley, C. 1925. ‘Reminiscences from 1841 of William Kyle a pioneer’ General references to Aboriginal people at the junction of MerriVictorian Historical magazine 10: 158-172. Creek and the Yarra River, including Aboriginal school. Describes the

Corroborees held on the banks of the Yarra River and Merri Creek (p.164-165), and the school for Aboriginal children near the junction of MerriCreek and the Yarra River (p. 165).

Ellender, I. and P. Christiansen (T. Faithfull, ed.). 2001. People of the References to Mission Station, Thomas’ Hut, Merri Creek Camp,Merri Merri. The Wurundjeri in Colonial Days. Merri Creek Management potato stealing incident at Gardiner’s, Native Police, Merri CreekCommittee Inc. School, Burial Place of Bebejan and Billibellary. Wurundjeri culture

and traditions. References to early encounters with the Woi wurrungin the Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay area, including John Batman’snegotiations with the Aboriginal people on the banks of the Merri MerriCreek (pp. 18-19). Describes the Merri Creek School established ona narrow strip of land between the junction of the Yarra River andMerri Merri Creek (pp. 94-95). The confluence of the Yarra River andMerri Creek is also mentioned as an important location for Wurundjeri-willam gatherings and ceremonies (p. 116). This confluence was alsothe burial place for Bebejan and Billibellary (p. 116) and the location ofthe Native Police before they relocated to Narre Narre Warren (p. 116).

Gott, B. and Zola, N. 1992. Koorie Plants, Koorie People. Traditional Traditional Indigenous plant use. Describes Aboriginal plant use alongAboriginal Food, Fibre and Healing Plants of Victoria. Koorie Heritage Victorian river systems and the coast, including Port Phillip Bay andTrust. Melbourne (pp. 19). Plants used by the Wurundjeri for food and fibre are

Listed, including plants in the Yarra River region.

Massola, A. 1959. ‘History of the Coast Tribe’ Victorian Naturalist Particularly Bunurong, Woi wurrung discussed. General references to76 (7): 180-181. Aboriginal people. No references to Boorondara – general references to

Melbourne only.

Massola, A. 1969. Journey to Aboriginal Victoria. Rigby Ltd: Adelaide Reference to sites in Melbourne area including the Langhorne’s mission,and the burial place of Bebejan. According to Massola, “Bebe-jern liesburied in the grounds of the Mental Hospital at Kew” (1969:1). Mentions

the school for Aboriginal children (established in 1845) located at thejunction of Merri Creek and the Yarra River (p. 2).

McFarlane, G. 1999. Hawthorn Sketches: Life on the Hill. Peppercorn Contains very brief references to Aboriginal people camping on the YarraPress: Hawthorn. in the Hawthorn area, including description of a garden and house owned

by Sir James Palmer which once contained a scarred tree (p. 27).Focuses on European settlement and pioneers of the Hawthorn area.

McWilliam, G. 1978. Hawthorn Peppercorns. Brian Atkins: Melbourne. General references to the Woi wurrung and Bunurong. References to theEffects of white settlement on Aboriginal people of the Melbourne area.References to the sightings of Aboriginal people near Gardiners Creek bya later owner of Gardiners Station, Major Davidson, in 1845 (p. 2).References to Aboriginals reputedly stealing potatoes from Gardiner’spotato patch on his property (p. 2). Aboriginal archaeological sites inHawthorn are discussed, and include the remains of a canoe true inCreswick Park and a scarred tree at 21 Coppin Grove. The Aboriginalmeaning of Boorandara is discussed (p. 3).

Peel, V., Zion, D. and J. Yule. 1993. A History of Hawthorn. Melbourne General notes on Aboriginal people living in the Melbourne area, includingUniversity Press: Carlton. Melbourne tribes. Specific anecdotes about Hawthorn, such as conflicts

between whites and Aboriginal people at Gardiners Creek (pp. 8, 9, and10). Gardiners Creek was originally called ‘Kooyongkoot’ by the Woiwurrung and re-named Gardiners Creek after early settler John Gardiner(pp. 5-6). Details concerning the impact of settlement on the Aboriginalpeople of the Boorondara region, including population estimates, theeffects of disease, and conflicts between settlers and tribes (pp.8-9).Recounts the story of Aboriginal people captured while removing potatoesfrom John Gardiner’s vegetable patch on Gardiners Creek in 1838 (p.9).

Presland, G. 1994. Aboriginal Melbourne: The Lost land of the Kulin People. Aboriginal sites and places around Melbourne. Discusses the AboriginalPenguin Books: Ringwood. people of the Port Phillip region and Melbourne, including Wurundjeri and

Bunurong. References to Gardiner’s Creek (p. 25), Merri Creek and theYarra River, including areas along these waterways where Aboriginalpeople exploited food resources and camped (pp. 25-31). Detailedinformation regarding the Mission Settlement at South Yarra (pp. 92-94)

and the Aboriginal Protectorate (pp. 95-103). The effects of whitesettlement on the Woi wurrung and Bunurong are also discussed. Nodirect reference to Boorondara.

Spreadborough, R. and H. Anderson. 1983. Victorian Squatters. Red Discusses early settlers, runs and stations, however no references toRooster Press: Ascot Vale. Aboriginal people in the Melbourne area. A brief reference to Batman and

The treaty with the Aboriginal people of the lower Yarra (pp. xxiv).

Sutherland, D. 1999. Wurundjeri Garden: Guide For Visitors. Hawthorn Plant names used by Wurundjeri people. Brochure produced by theHistorical Society. Hawthorn Historical Society as aguide to the Wurundjeri Garden situated

on the banks of the Yarra River in Hawthorn. The brochure describesWhat plants would have been exploited by Aboriginal people along theYarra and in the Hawthorn area before European settlement.

Vaughan, W. D. 1960. Kew’s Civic Century. W. D. Vaughan P/L: Kew. References to Fleming’s journal on Grimes’ 1803 expedition. Extractsfrom Fleming’s journal states that the survey party came across a groupof Aboriginal people on Gardiner’s Creek (pp.11-12). Also discusses theTreaty made by John Batman and Aboriginal people on the banks of MerriCreek near Studley Park (p. 12). Gardiner’s Creek was originally knownby its Aboriginal name Kooyong Koot Creek.

Wiencke, S. W. 1984. When the Wattles Bloom Again: the Life and Reference to Barak, Simon Wonga, Billibellary and other Wurundjeri men.Times of William Barak, Last Chief of the Yarra Yarra Tribe. Woori Yallock General information on William Barak and the Yarra Tribe. Barak’s father

Old Chief Jerrum Jerrum was buried in the grounds of Studley Park.Discusses Conflicts between settlers and Aboriginal people in theMelbourne area. Also discusses John Batman’s treaty and the relocationof Aboriginal people to missions such as Corranderk.

Oral History Sources


Oral History Program, Koorie Heritage Trust. Contact for information.

Contact Cliff Greet: ph 9639 6555

Jackomos, A. and D. Fowell. Living Aboriginal History of Victoria: Biographical details of selected Victorian Aboriginal people. One referenceStories in the Oral Tradition. Museum of Victoria: Melbourne. to the Aboriginal people gathering on the banks of the Yarra River “On

Sundays Doug Nicholls, Marg Tucker and William Cooper gathered atMelbourne’s Yarra Bank, a one acre reserve where anyone with a causeCould speak (p. 32)”, however exact location is not given. No specificreferences to Aboriginal people living in Boorondara.

Indigenous Image Collection. Access via the Web at Picture Australia www.pictureaustralia.org. Thecollection features general Indigenous images, including camp sites andportraits. Images of William Barak and missions such as Lake Tyers andCorranderk. No images specific to Boorandara. Unable to narrow down thesearch to Wurundjeri, Yarra River or Gardiners Creek.

Visual Sources and Collections


Coutts, P. J. F. 1981. Readings in Victorian Prehistory. Volume 2. Contains many visual sources relating to Victorian Aboriginal people. The Victorian Aboriginals 1800 to 1860. Victorian Archaeological Survey Includes paintings, drawings, sketches and photographs. Contains oneMinistry for Conservation, Victoria, May 1981. photograph relating to Aboriginal people in the Boroondara area:

‘Photograph of Protectors Hut near Studley Park c. 1840-45’. MitchellLibrary, Sydney. The photograph is possibly of Protector W. Thomas’s hutwith Thomas to the right of the photo (see Figure 128).

Partos, L. 1996. The Victorian Aboriginal Photographic Collection inThe Museum of Victoria. COMA Bulletin 28:63-65.

Pescott, R. 1992. Collections of a Century. The History of the First No references or images relating to Aboriginal people.Hundred Years of the National Museum of Victoria. National MuseumOf Victoria.

Sculthorpe, G. (ed.). 1990. Guide to the Victorian Aboriginal Collections Catalogue of Aboriginal artefacts from the Melbourne area, including

In the Museum of Victoria. Museum of Victoria: Melbourne. hafted axes, baskets, and boomerangs manufactured by the Wurundjeri andBunurong. Also artefacts collected from the banks of the Yarra River,however no details of specific locations available. A list of photographs keptby the museum is also included, some of which are depictions of Aboriginalpeople along the Yarra River (No specific areas given).

Indigenous Image Collection, Melbourne Museum (Museum of Victoria) General Indigenous images – landscapes and people.

Indigenous Image Collection, Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria. General Indigenous images – landscapes and people. Some images ofhttp://statelibrary.vic.gov.au/slv/mmcatalogue/ Aboriginal people camping on the Yarra River and portraits of Aboriginal

people living in the Melbourne area during the 19th and 20th centuries.No images relating to the Boorondara region.

Indigenous Image Collection, National Library of Australia, Website: General Indigenous images – landscapes and people. Some images ofhttp://www.nla.gov.au/catalogue/pictures/ Aboriginal people on the Yarra River and Merri Creek, no specific locations

given for photos.

Indigenous Image Collection, Picture Australia, www.pictureaustralia.org General Indigenous images – landscapes and people. Catalogue includesimages from a large number of libraries and other agencies including theState Library of Victoria, the National Library of Australia and the Universityof Melbourne. No specific images relating to Boorondara.

Archaeological Reports


Brown, S. 1995. An Archaeological Survey of the Tullamarine Freeway Brown was commissioned to undertake an archaeological survey theand South Eastern Arterial, Melbourne. Volume 1 Archaeological Melbourne City Link Authority in regard to the City Link Project. TheReport. Report to Melbourne City Link Authority. Survey area included the South Eastern Arterial, including sections of

Gardiner’s Creek. No Aboriginal archaeological sites were located duringthis investigation, and it was recommended that no further archaeologicalwork needed to be carried out.

Presland, G. 1983. An Archaeological survey of the Melbourne Archaeology within the Melbourne Metropolitan Area.

Metropolitan Area. VAS ORS No. 15. Ministry for Planning and Gary Presland undertook an archaeological survey of the MelbourneEnvironment: Victoria. Metropolitan area for the Victorian Archaeological Survey. The aims of the

study were to identify areas of potential archaeological importance in thestudy area, to identify those parts of the study area where archaeologicalsurveys can be conducted effectively, and to prepare comprehensiveproposals for future surveys of archaeological sites in the study area.Recommendations included site management procedures for recorded sitesand future archaeological studies for the study area.

Hall, R. 1989. Merri Creek Parklands: Aboriginal and Historical Heritage Archaeology along sections of the Merri Creek. This report provides aSurvey. Merri Creek Bicentennial Committee. Vols. 1 and 2. description and interpretation of the archaeology of Merri Creek, with the

aim of providing basic information necessary for making management andresearch decisions in regards to the archaeological resource base (Hall1989:ii). Specific aims included the documentation and interpretation ofknown Aboriginal archaeological sites and the provision ofrecommendations in relation to the management and protection of thesesites. The report includes descriptions and photographs of knownAboriginal archaeological and historical sites along the creek.

Johnston, C and Ellender, I. 1993. Merri Creek Concept Plan, Strategic Discusses archaeology along sections of the Merri Creek. This report was n And Statutory Planning Project: Cultural Heritage Report. Vols. 1 and not reviewed in detail, as it concentrates on Merri Creek outside of the study2. Melbourne Water and Merri Creek Management Committee. Area.

Du Cros, H. and Rhodes, D. 1998. Aboriginal Archaeological Sensitivities Archaeology along waterways of the Melbourne area, including the Yarra.Study of the Water Ways and Flood Plains of Greater Melbourne. The Waterways and Drainage Group within Melbourne Water was requiredMelbourne Water Corporation. to plan for a variety of developments and improvements to waterways and

floodplains to meet its waterway management and regional drainageresponsibilities. The aim of the project was to provide an overviewassessment of waterway and floodplain areas across greater Melbournewith regard to their sensitivity for Aboriginal cultural material (du Cros andRhodes 1998:1.2). The areas of archaeological sensitivity were formulatedfrom the background information and the site distribution patterns revealedby the generalities in the site prediction models in use around Melbourne

(du Cros and Rhodes 1998:1.4). These areas were classified as waterwaysof high, medium and low sensitivity, areas of high sensitivity and floodplains.The Yarra River and Merri Creek were identified as being waterways of highsensitivity.

Hughes, S. 2000. Conservation Management Plan for an Aboriginal CanoeTree, Yarra Bank Reserve, Hawthorn. Report documenting an Aboriginal scarred tree located within the Site

Registry, boundaries of the Yarra Bank Reserve, Hawthorn. Two registeredAboriginal scarred trees in the area are also described (the Burnley ParkCorroboree Tree, site number 79223/025 and a scarred tree located in thegrounds of ‘Invergowrie’, 21 Coppin Grove). Contains an existing conditionreport on the tree and threats to the site. Recommendations includedconservation treatment options.

Murphy, A. 2000. Koonung Creek, Donvale. A Preliminary Cultural Heritage Archaeology along section of the Koonung Creek. Melbourne WaterInvestigation. Melbourne Water Corporation, Waterways and Environment. Corporation commissioned Murphy to conduct a preliminary cultural

heritage assessment of a section of Koonung Creek extending betweenBowen Road and Darvall Street, Donvale. No Aboriginal archaeologicalsites were located during the archaeological survey, and it was determinedthat the immediate banks of Koonung Creek had low potential forarchaeological material due to the disturbed nature of the creek line.

Witter, D. C. and Upcher, C. M. 1977. An Archaeological Survey: Yarra Archaeology in the Yarra valley Area.Valley area, Melbourne, MMBW. This archaeological survey was funded by the Melbourne and Metropolitan

Board of Works to provide recommendations for archaeological sites whichwill be affected by the proposed Yarra Valley Metropolitan Park. The aimwas to locate Aboriginal archaeological sites and associated artefactswithin the proposed location for the park (Witter and Upcher 1977:1). Fourlithic sites, twenty Aboriginal scarred trees (one previously recorded) and asingle ground stone axe were located during the survey (Witter and Upcher1977: 1). Management proposals for the Yarra Valley Survey area included

a salvage study for scarred trees, intensive systematic collection of lithicsites, monitoring of sites and protection of sites (Witter and Upcher1977:15).

APPENDIX 2

Client Brief - City of Boroondara

APPENDIX 3

AAV Correspondence

Documents

Boroondara Indigenous Heritage Study Stage 2, June 2004