“… we Aboriginals all wish and hope to have freedom, not to be bound down by the Protection of the Board … But we should be free like the White Population. There is only few blacks now remaining in Victoria.” 

– Petition signed by Coranderrk residents, 1886

The people of the Kulin Nation – made up of five wurrung (Language) groups in central Victoria – suffered deeply due to the impacts of colonisation and the racist attitudes and policies of colonial authorities. As European settlements and agriculture spread from the mid-nineteenth century, First Nations people were dispossessed of their traditional lands and forced into missions and reserves. Food and water resources became inaccessible, families were separated, and the population was decimated, as many lost their lives to violence and introduced diseases.  

Kulin people showed enormous resilience in the face of this devastation. First Nations people from all over Victoria were brought to reserves in this area, such as Coranderrk near Healesville. Often experiencing mistreatment and severe restrictions, these communities were nonetheless able to come together and fight hard for self-determination, as well as passing down knowledge of biik (Country) and Culture. 

To learn more about the history of First Nations people in Victoria visit here 

IMAGE:

William Barak’s petition from Coranderrk Station to the Chief Secretary, 1886

(Source: Public Record Office Victoria)