Traditional Owners 

There is evidence to suggest that Aboriginal people have lived in the Macedon Ranges for at least 26,000 years. The Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung lived in clearly demarcated territories defined by tribal language, and bounded by geographical features such as mountain ridges, creeks or rivers. These three communities, along with the Wathaurung and Boonerwrung, make up the federation of the Kulin Nation. Each community in the Kulin Nation is distinct and is made up of smaller land-owning communities (or clans) but they all share a defining social moiety (totem) either Bundjil, the eagle, or Waa, the crow. An individual’s moiety traditionally dictated behaviour, social relationships and marriage partners.

The Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples lived on the lands in and around the Yarra River and Maribyrnong watershed, which extended northwards to include the Macedon Ranges and the current towns of Gisborne, Hesket, Lancefield, Macedon, Riddells Creek and Romsey.

Source: http://www.maggolee.org.au

The Dja Dja Wurrung Peoples

The Dja Dja Wurrung peoples (also known as the Djaara Djaara people) covered a very large area of central Victoria, including land around the present towns of Woodend and Malmsbury and the west side of the Campaspe River around Carlsruhe and Kyneton.

Taungurung peoples lived on lands that include the townships of Kyneton and Carlsruhe on the east side of the Campaspe River, and range through to Rushworth and Euroa in the north, extending east to Mt Buller.

Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung communities continue to be active today, working to manage and care for Country and develop strong and resilient communities.

As a result of colonial policies and demographic shifts there are other Aboriginal people living in Macedon Ranges who belong to different Traditional Owner groups outside of the Macedon Ranges. These Aboriginal people have their own histories and cultures that is also recognised by these protocols.

Significant Sites

There are a range of significant Aboriginal sites in Macedon Ranges including below:

Mount William/ Wil-im-ee Moor-ring

Mount William, north of Lancefield, is one of the most important cultural sites of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people, with highly-prized green stone being extensively quarried for use as axe tools. Mount William was recently added to the National Heritage List in recognition of its national significance.

Hanging Rock

Hanging Rock is on the edge of several tribal boundaries and is believed to be a shared place which may have been used for gatherings.

Mt. Macedon/Geboor

The mountain is known as Geboor or Geburrh in the Aboriginal Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri people. At the base of Mount Macedon is an axe-grinding site important for the Gunung willam-balluk clan part of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung community. The stone from Mt. William was shaped and sharpened on the rock. Some of the finished axe heads were traded during night-time ceremonies held around Hanging Rock.