Gawa Reserve (Watsons Creek)
The Gawa Wurundjeri Resource Trail is a self guided 340m loop walking trail. Markers explain how the Wurundjeri clan lived near the creek and used the land to obtain bush foods, medicines, implements, shelter and clothes. The trail introduces visitors to the indigenous flora and fauna, including manna gums, Lomandra (used to weave baskets) and wombat burrows.
The Trail was launched by Wurundjeri elder Jim Wandin and the Nillumbik Reconciliation Group in partnership with the Nillumbik Shire Council in 2001.
Features of the walk are:
- Easy short walk - unsuitable for wheelchairs
- Public toilets nearby
- Open 24 hours. Best accessed during daylight hours
- No charge
The 340m walking trail consists of a main trail with a loop. The self-guided trail is designed to be walked in a clockwise direction with signs detailing how the Wurundjeri people utilise the bushland resources. The main track leads to a lookout over Watsons Creek.
For much of the year Watsons Creek is merely a trickle, at other times flows freely. In 1854 gold was discovered in the streams flowing into the creek and this saw hundreds of gold miners move in, making life difficult for the Wurundjeri people.
Gawa Wurundjeri Resource Trail Map
The 11 plaques have been designed by Wurundjeri artist, Judy Nicholson, a descendent of William Barak.
1. Tanderrum: Welcome Ceremony
The Wurundjeri people of today practice their living culture by conducting a Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country. The Tanderrum was a more detailed ceremony for visitors to Wurundjeri country.
2. Burgan
Spear making was an essential skill for Wurundjeri men. They used tea tree, burgan, which grew strong and dense with straight trunks for spears.
How was it crafted into weapons and other tools?
3. Lomandra (spiny headed mat-rush)
Spiny headed mat-rush grows prolifically here. Its leaves were woven into bags and baskets for cooking and collecting the harvest from the bush.
4. Warendji (wombat)
This area is wombat country. See the picture drawn by an early anthropologist who met the Wurundjeri people in early 1800.
How did Wurundjeri hunters extract the wombat from his long burrow?
5. Bracken Fern
The Wurundjeri used Bracken Fem for bread, a cure for ant bite and a springy mattress. Find out how this versatile plant served so many uses.
6. Coranderrk (Native Mint Bush or Victorian Christmas Bush)
This Bush grows along creeks and blooms with white flowers in December. The mint flavoured leaves were used in cooking.
How were the stalks used for wands for fire making?
7. Gawa (echidna)
The echidna can only be found near Watson Creek. Only Wurundjeri Elders were allowed to eat the delicious meat. This law was strictly followed.
How did women use the echidna quills?
8. Acacia
A very useful tree as acacias provided hard wood for clubs, shields, digging sticks and boomerangs. It was used for the frame of the willam (house). The sap was used to make glue for tool making.
How else was it used?
9. Watsons Creek
Wurrundjeri camps were established near water for drinking, washing, cooking and recreation. Water also attracted kangaroos and other mammals, lizards, ducks and other water birds. Fish, eels and mussels were in good supply with water ribbons and reeds growing along the banks.
10. Urrun (Manna gum)
The Wurundjeri name was derived from the Manna gum (Wurrun) and a grub (Djeri) which lives in it. Many small mammals and birds nest in Manna gums. They also provide edible sap.
11. Stringybarks
The heavy hairy bark of this tree had many uses. It was cut into thick slabs for the walls of a Wurundjeri willam (house) or to make a canoe. Fibres were used to make strong string and rope. Bags and nets were woven to trap fish and birds.
Location
873 Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Watsons Creek 3097 View Map
Web Links
→ www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Explore/Parks-reserves-and-playgrounds/Gawa-Reserve
→ Panton Hill Bushlands Reserves (PDF)
→ Gawa Wurundjeri Resource Trail brochure(PDF)
→ Gawa Wurundjeri Resource Walk and cafe stop (Walking Maps)
