Cultural significance of Yan Yean revealed in new report

Melbourne Water is celebrating the outstanding contributions, achievements, and excellence of Aboriginal Victorians at events across this NAIDOC Week 2023. 

NAIDOC Week has kicked off to honour and pay tribute to Aboriginal Elders to the way cultural values are presented, respected, and interpreted on Wurundjeri Country in Yan Yean.  

Melbourne Water and the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation are pleased to share with the community a Cultural Values Assessment, which will guide work with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elders to further protect the cultural significance of the Yan Yean Reservoir catchment area on Wurundjeri Country.  

The project’s findings provide a solid foundation for Melbourne Water and Wurundjeri to continue walking Country together at Yan Yean, by exploring opportunities to continue to expand Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Corporation’s role in land management. 

The assessment was the result of archival research and on-Country knowledge recording sessions with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elders, and identifies places of historical, cultural, and heritage significance to the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people.  

Among these features is registered and newly discovered Victorian Aboriginal Cultural Heritage places, including a scarred tree and lithic artefacts, and creation ancestor and totem species.  

Other features include places representing colonial settler and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung interactions, and as well, important biodiversity that is being managed by Wurundjeri people as they continue to carry out caring for Country responsibilities through the Narrap Rangers.  

The theme for this year’s NAIDOC Week is For Our Elders.  It emphasises the part our Aboriginal elders play in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural identity, linking people to their land and water to protect the cultural significance of the Yan Yean Reservoir catchment area on Wurundjeri Country. 

“We are excited to be working with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, the traditional owners of Yan Yean Reservoir catchment area, on projects like this with the aim to increase our understanding of the cultural values of the site,” said Tim Wood, General Manager Service Programs.  

“Importantly, this assessment will guide us as we work together to action Wurundjeri's recommendations to manage this significant landscape into the future.”  

Sean Hunter of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Corporation said: “This assessment is part of the ongoing cultural revitalisation at Yan Yean and will support our ongoing connection to this important ancestral place, through our caring for Country responsibilities and other work. It also enables cultural values to be embedded within Melbourne Water’s way of working.”   

The study area consisted of the Yan Yean Reservoir and the surrounding catchment, including the Yan Yean Reservoir Park.  

Read the summary of the Cultural Values Assessment on our YourSay page.

Media enquiries:
Sandra Aloi, Senior Media Advisor 
 03 9679 7004 
 [email protected]

Page header and cover artwork by Ash Firebrace, an Indigenous artist who works in Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Corporation’s Narrap land management team. The artwork represents Wurundjeri families living along the Plenty River and the importance of the eucalypt red gums which were sourced for bark in the reservoir catchment.