The Northern Grampians region is home to a rich and enduring Aboriginal history that spans tens of thousands of years. The land is part of the traditional country of the Dja Dja Wurrung and Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagalk peoples, who have lived on and cared for this country for countless generations.
There are two appointed registered Aboriginal parties for our area:
For the Dja Dja Wurrung People, whose lands span the eastern part of the shire, country is central to identity, culture and wellbeing. Country is more than landscape, it is living and breathing. It holds the stories of ancestors, the obligations of care, and the knowledge systems passed down through oral traditions. Djarra describe their connection to country as a relationship of reciprocity and responsibility, guided by cultural values, seasonal knowledge and deep spiritual ties to land and water.
The Barengi Gadjin People, Traditional Owners of the Wimmera region including the western parts of the Grampians (Gariwerd), also maintain a strong connection to country. The Wotjobaluk Nations were the first Traditional Owner group in Victoria to achieve native title recognition in 2005. Their cultural heritage is embedded in the landscapes seen in songlines, rock art, ceremonial sites, and enduring language and practices. Gariwerd, including key sites within the shire, is a place of profound spiritual and cultural importance, still actively cared for and visited today.
Council acknowledges the continuing connection of the Dja Dja Wurrung and Barengi Gadjin peoples to the land, waters and skies of this region, and pays respect to elders past and present. We are committed to working in partnership with Traditional Owners, supporting self-determination, cultural heritage protection, and truth-telling about the impacts of colonisation.