Ballarat - Yuilles Wetlands (Sebastopol)



Ballarat - Yuilles Wetlands (Sebastopol)

The Yuilles Wetlands area has a boardwalk, lookout jetty and connecting paths to the Yarrowee River. There are plenty of waterbirds in the area.

There is a driveway down to 'Yuille's Station' park sitting above the wetlands area where there is a carpark, two shelters, each with a table and a memorial which is adjacent to the site chosen in 1839 by a first settler William Cross Yuille as the original homestead site. This monument was erected on the occasion of the centenary of the Borough of Sebastopol on November 1964 and was built of the original foundation stones from his home.

Ballarat - Yuilles Wetlands (Sebastopol)

Metal steps lead down to tracks past signage for the Ballarat Koorie Heritage Trail (location no. 2). This signage reads:

The Wathaurung (Wada wurrung) tribal name for the Sebastopol locality was Yuran-yuran.

Traditionally, the Yarrowee River or Yaramlok was one of the waterways upon which the Aborigines camped. In the nineteenth century one encampment existed near what was then a small lake to the east of Vickers Street. Although some conflict did occur between the Wathaurung and the early European settlers, confrontation of a serious nature was comparatively rare in the Ballarat area. The demise of the indigenous population in the wider Ballarat area brought about the movement of members of the neighbouring Dja Dja wurrung and Djab wurrung tribes ro Carngham to the west of Sebastopol. Carngham or Kurnum means "home of us people". By 1859 a number were reported to be destitute and famished. From 1860 a ration depot was operated at Stockyard Hill. A ceremonial gathering which took place near the junction of Victoria and Grant Streets, Sebastopol, about this time is said to have been the last of its kind. Dispossession and disease hastened the demise of the local Wathaurung, those remaining in 1873 being mainly old and feeble. A few moved to the Aboriginal stations at Framlingham and Coranderrk: In 1874, the ration depot was closed.

Photos:





Location


41 Vickers St, Sebastopol VIC  Sebastopol 3356 View Map



Ballarat - Yuilles Wetlands (Sebastopol)41 Vickers St, Sebastopol VIC , Sebastopol, Victoria, 3356