Gariwerd is a very spiritual pace and had an abundance of food, shelter and resources for mob to use and is home to about 90% of rock art sites in Victoria.
Gariwerd, (commonly known as the Grampians) is a mountain range central to the Dreaming stories of the Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali (pronounced Yard-wa-jali) who are the traditional custodians of the area.
You can read the Gariwerd creation story here.
Gariwerd. Source: Melbourne on the Move.
The Six Seasons
The Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali peoples recognised six different ‘seasons’ in Gariwerd. These seasons were based around the changing patterns of the environments including the behaviour of animals as well as the weather. These six seasons were:
- Kooyang (Late Summer) - Season of eels and parched landscape
- Gwangal Moronn (Autumn) - Season of honey bees, sunrises and flocking birds
- Chinnup (Winter) - Season of cockatoos, cool climate and early wildflowers
- Larneuk (Early Spring) - Season of nesting birds and changeable weather
- Petyan (Late Spring) - Season of wildlife and wildflowers
- Ballambar (Early Summer) - Season of butterflies, warm weather and wetland plants.
Gariwerd Calendar Source: Bureau of Meteorology.
Grampians National Park
The Grampians National Park is a nature reserve in Victoria, Australia and is located within the Gariwerd Aboriginal cultural landscape. It’s known for its sandstone mountains, wildflowers and wildlife including echidnas and wallabies. The National park has amazing hiking trails for all different levels of fitness including one that takes you to the peak of Mt William.
Brambuk the National Park & Cultural Centre
The award-winning Cultural Centre was designed collaboratively with the Traditional Owners of Gariwerd by renowned architect, Greg Burgess, to celebrate connection to Country.
In 2006, the park visitor information building was added, which now houses the Grampians Park information counter, a café and gift shop. It is a one-stop shop for park information and a must-see for people visiting the Grampians.
Parks Victoria has temporarily taken over the management of Brambuk: The National Park and Cultural Centre in association with Gariwerd Traditional Owner corporations, Barengi Gadjin Land Council, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.
Gariwerd. Source: NITV.
Budja Budja Corporation
The Budja Budja Aboriginal Cooperative Ltd. was established by the CEO and Elder, Tim Chatfield, in 1999. Its aim is to deliver a range of cultural, medical, health and wellbeing services to both the local Indigenous and non-Indigenous community, including the one million international and domestic tourists who visit Gariwerd each year.
Sources
- Gariwerd/Grampians, Budja Budja Co-operative
- Grampians National Park, Parks Victoria
- Brambuk The National Park and Cultural Centre, Parks Victoria
- Gariwerd Calendar, Bureau of Meteorology