INDIGENOUS CULTURE & HERITAGE

Traditional inhabitants of the Gippsland region were the Gunai/Kurnai people. Swan Reach was the central corroboree point for the five clans of the Kurnai. Today, our regions history is rich in their culture and heritage.

As you tour through East Gippsland you will be following the well worn routes that the Koorie people of our region have been travelling for thousands of years. For Aboriginal people, land is central to their identities, heritage and their spiritual existence. The significance of land is intimately bound in the spirituality surrounding the origins of landscapes and the animals, plants and people that inhabit them.

Similarly, Indigenous culture looks at art from a different viewpoint. It is not just about artistic release. Art is the representation of identity for one or many, an expression of knowledge, cultural heritage and a deep association and linking to the land.

The Bataluk Cultural Trail is a wonderful insight into the culture and heritage of the traditional inhabitants of East Gippsland. It is a story of where they came from and what they encountered. It is rich in meaning and sometimes harsh in reality. With explanations of indigenous heritage sites and information on a variety of cultural aspects, this guide is a must.

The local Koorie people welcome the opportunity to tell visitors about their traditional lands and culture but ask that you respect their land and culture in your behaviour. Enjoy your experience.

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