Gawa Wurundjeri Aboriginal Resource Trail - Watson’s Creek
This 340 metre self-guided trail is on the Eltham-Yarra Glen Road and consists of a main track with a loop.
The main track leads to a lookout area over Watson’s Creek and the loop takes you through the diverse vegetation of the Gawa Reserve.
The trail is designed to be travelled in a clockwise direction. Numbers on the brochure - available at Info Warrandyte and from the Nillumbik Reconciliation Group - correspond with markers on the trail.
Dogs are allowed on a leash.
Some Background
Gawa means ‘echidna’ and the trail is designed to give visitors a greater understanding of how the Wurundjeri people used the land to provide for themselves with food, medicines, implements, shelters and clothes - all seen as provided for their enjoyment and use by their Dreamtime spirits.
The Wurundjeri willam, a clan of about 50 closely related individuals of all ages moved across their Yarra Valley homeland on a seasonal basis, hunting and gathering wild foods as each came on stream.
In 1840 the land on the Eltham side of Watson’s Creek became part of James Murray’s Watson’s Creek Station’ making it difficult for the Wurundjeri people to continue their former hunting and gathering.
In 1854 gold was discovered in the streams flowing into Watson’s Creek and hundreds of diggers flooded in.
The site is now jointly managed by Nillumbik Shire and Parks Victoria.
Contact details
- Address: Nillumbik Reconciliation Group, PO Box 238, Eltham, Vic 3095
