Long before the arrival of European settlers, the area we now call Phillip Island has been home to the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation for 40,000 years.
Millowl, the indigenous name for Phillip Island, saw a culture that spanned tens of thousands of years. Their culture is deeply rooted in the rhythms of the seasons, as well as the cultural practices that use the land’s natural resources.
For the Bunurong people, the land is not only a thing to live on, but a living, breathing entity, just like a human or animal.
The culture is upheld and passed on through song, stories, artwork, and sacred sites.
Seasonal migration
The Bunurong life involved a rhythm of seasonal migration. The weather and natural cycles would dictate their lifestyles.
This would mean they would travel to Phillip Island via bark canoe during the summer, and arrive on the island to gather food.
Food and resources on the island
The coastal waters were rich in nutritious food. During warmer months, Bunurong people travelled to Phillip Island to gather food.
The seas provided fish, seals and shellfish, whereas the land would provide bush food such as berries, murnongs (a type of yam daisy). Birds, swans and parrots of the island were also eaten, as there were high numbers of birds that would migrate to the area during the warmer months.
The yams, which grew naturally around the island (which are similar to a potato), were cooked over a natural oven of burning coal.
Wild Food Farm at Rhyll has a nursery of native plants which are used in the preparation of some native meals.
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Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia
Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.