In a landmark legal move, the traditional owners of the land encompassing Melbourne have formally submitted a native title claim over thousands of square kilometres of the city and its surrounding regions. The Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people filed the application with the Federal Court, seeking legal recognition of their enduring connection to country.
A Vast and Significant Claim Area
The extensive claim covers a massive swathe of territory, stretching from the mouth of the Werribee River north to its headwater in the Great Dividing Range. It extends east to Mount Baw Baw, south through Bunyip, and west to Mordialloc Creek. The claim area includes significant waterways such as parts of the Yarra, Maribyrnong, and Plenty rivers, as well as the northern section of Port Philip Bay. A site of profound historical importance, the area around Coranderrk—an Aboriginal reserve established in 1863 and still regarded as a key site of self-determination—is also included within the claim.
Walking Together: Aims and Implications
Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung elder Di Kerr emphasised that the process is fundamentally about having their deep, historical connection to country acknowledged in Australian law. "We're very proud that this process is happening, and we want to walk together," Kerr stated. "We want to have partnerships with governments and Parks Victoria so we can co-manage and look after that country."
This legal action arrives just one week after Victoria became the first Australian state to pass a formal treaty with Aboriginal people into law. If successful, this would be the eighth native title determination granted in Victoria and only the third to cover a capital city, following similar recognitions for the Kaurna people in Adelaide and the Noongar settlement in Western Australia.
A Long Road Ahead and Community Reassurance
Filing the application is merely the first step in what can often become a decades-long legal process. It is crucial to note that native title only applies to crown land and does not affect private property, businesses, or public infrastructure, limiting its direct scope within metropolitan areas. The Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people are primarily hoping to negotiate involvement in managing parks and conservation areas, which could include parts of the Dandenong Ranges, Bunyip State Park, Wombat State Forest, and Lerderderg State Park.
Elder Perry Wandin directly addressed potential community concerns, explaining that the claim is not about seizing private land. "Everyone thinks we're coming after their properties," Wandin said. "But our aim was actually to work in conjunction with government and communities to look after and restore the land." He affirmed that after decades of fighting for recognition, it is now time for the traditional lore and customs of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people to be formally recognised by the courts.
