Budj Bim Cultural Landscape

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Budj Bim Cultural Landscape: An Ancient Aquaculture System in South-Eastern Australia

The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, offers a unique glimpse into the rich history and innovative practices of the Gunditjmara people, an Aboriginal Australian group residing in south-eastern Australia. This remarkable site encompasses three distinct components—Kurtonitj, Tyrendarra, and the Budj Bim (Lake Condah) area—which together form what is recognized as the earliest known large-scale and permanent aquaculture system in the world.

Located within the traditional Country of the Gunditjmara people, the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is situated around the dormant volcano, Budj Bim, or Mount Eccles, in the Newer Volcanics Province of south-western Victoria. The volcanic landscape provides the foundation for the intricate network of channels, weirs, and dams engineered by the Gunditjmara over at least 6,600 years. These structures were designed to trap, store, and harvest kooyang, the short-finned eel (Anguilla australis), creating a highly productive aquaculture system that served as the economic and social backbone for Gunditjmara society.

Significantly, this system supported a semi-permanent settlement pattern, evidenced by the remains of over 150 circular stone dwellings found throughout the landscape. These findings challenge long-standing colonial assumptions that Aboriginal societies were exclusively nomadic, highlighting instead the diversity, complexity, and stability of Indigenous lifeways.

The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is not merely a physical manifestation of human ingenuity; it is deeply rooted in the Gunditjmara creation narrative. According to their oral tradition, the Gunditjmara have inhabited this region since the dawn of time. This concept, often described as “deep time,” aligns with broader archaeological evidence indicating tens of thousands of years of Aboriginal presence in Australia. This close connection between the Gunditjmara and their land is maintained through the preservation of traditional knowledge systems passed down through generations and the continuation of cultural practices.

One of the key features of the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is its ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Over thousands of years, the Gunditjmara have continually modified their aquaculture system to accommodate shifts in eel populations, water levels, and climate patterns. This dynamic relationship between the Gunditjmara and their environment underscores the resilience and adaptability of Indigenous cultures in the face of environmental challenges.

Beyond its historical significance, Budj Bim holds immense scientific value. Archaeological excavations have uncovered evidence of the Gunditjmara's sophisticated understanding of hydrology, engineering, and ecology, providing valuable insights into prehistoric societies and their interactions with their environments. Furthermore, the site serves as a testament to the potential for Indigenous knowledge systems to inform modern conservation efforts and sustainable development practices.

Today, the landscape is actively managed by the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, who are leading efforts to restore and maintain the ancient aquaculture system, including the revival of traditional eel harvesting practices. This ongoing stewardship highlights that Budj Bim is not only an archaeological site but also a living cultural landscape.

The inscription of the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape as a UNESCO World Heritage Site marks a significant step towards acknowledging and preserving the rich heritage of the Gunditjmara people. By recognizing the importance of this site, we not only celebrate the achievements of the past but also affirm our commitment to fostering a more inclusive and culturally diverse understanding of humanity's shared history.

UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, located in the traditional Country of the Gunditjmara people in south-eastern Australia, consists of three serial components containing one of the world’s most extensive and oldest aquaculture systems. The Budj Bim lava flows provide the basis for the complex system of channels, weirs and dams developed by the Gunditjmara in order to trap, store and harvest kooyang (short-finned eel – Anguilla australis). The highly productive aquaculture system provided an economic and social base for Gunditjmara society for six millennia. The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is the result of a creational process narrated by the Gunditjmara as a deep time story, referring to the idea that they have always lived there. From an archaeological perspective, deep time represents a period of at least 32,000 years. The ongoing dynamic relationship of Gunditjmara and their land is nowadays carried by knowledge systems retained through oral transmission and continuity of cultural practice.

Encyclopedia Record: Budj Bim

Budj Bim, also known as Mount Eccles, is a dormant volcano near Macarthur in southwestern Victoria, Australia. It lies within the geologically defined area known as the Newer Volcanics Province, which is the youngest volcanic area in Australia and stretches from western Victoria to south-eastern South Australia.

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