Budj Bim Cultural Immersion Tour

The creation spirit Budj Bim (also known as Mt Eccles) revealed himself in the landscape as a volcano spewing blood and teeth with the people in the form of lava flow.

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape located in South West Region in the traditional country of the Gunditjmara Aboriginal People.   

The South West Region tour linked into the public tours available at Budj Bim which allow people to participate in an educational tour on country.   

The landscape in the region was formed by volcanic eruptions that occurred about 37,000 years ago. Budj Bim is a now dormant volcano that erupted several times, with the most recent eruptions occurring about 7,000 years ago.   

Each site visited showcased evidence of the ingenuity and engineering skills of the Gunditjmara people over thousands of years to create weirs, channels, holding pools and smoking trees for the farming of eels. These sites have been recognised internationally as world heritage listed areas for being one of the world's most extensive and oldest aquaculture systems.   

After the tour, the group discussed their experiences and the knowledge they had gained, including the ways different roles in CFA could play a part in protecting, preserving, supporting and celebrating Aboriginal culture.   

This included:

• Learning to recognise artefacts and know what country we are on
• Read about the history and the ambitions of the Traditional Owners
• Participate in events that allow us to learn and celebrate culture
• Engage cultural heritage officers early and expand our knowledge of best practice when fire is in known areas of cultural significance
• Learn to ask the question when we are in areas new and unknown to us. 

The tour concluded with Indigenous tasting platters at the Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre which overlooks Lake Condah.   

Cultural Immersion Tours create opportunities for CFA members to experience places through the lens of the Traditional Owners, learn more about local Aboriginal culture, historical events, recognise cultural heritage artefacts, and engage in conversation about the present and future ambitions of Traditional Owners when caring for country.

Register your interest to be informed about future Cultural Immersion Tours here.