Sale Wetlands

Brayakooloong Country

Like a Supermarket.

The wetlands may be reached either via Lake Guthridge, which is right beside the Princes Highway/South Gippsland Highway intersection in Sale, or by turning off the South Gippsland Highway about 1km out of town. The turnoff is well signposted. Further information may be obtained at the Sale Visitor Information centre.

The wetlands were like a supermarket for the GUNAIKURNAI people of the area. A walk around Lake Guthridge to the Sale Common boardwalks reveals numerous plants and birds which were sources of food and other important raw materials.

"Koories learned from the land, and managed to sustain themselves for 60,000 years. We need to aim for a similar understanding, and to value the vast resources of our unique Australian flora, already so well adapted to the land. We have yet to develop a sustainable agriculture in Australia, and our challenge is to match the span of Koorie survival."

B. Gott. 1992, 'Koorie Use and Management of the Plains' Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Monash University

 

Gippsland Redgum.   Eucalyptus tereticornis subsp. mediana

The wood was much prized for making boomerangs, shields and weapons. The bark was used for canoes, shields, infant carriers and for wrapping up the deceased. Burls were cut to make bowls. The seeds were eaten and the sap was used as medicine to treat burns and diarrhoea. The tree also provided a look-out and habitat for other food sources and resources such as birds, beehives and possums. Prior to European settlement, most people in Victoria wore a possum skin cloak.

Gippsland Redgums can live for over 1000 years.

This scar was created when the Gunaikurnai removed bark for a canoe. Scar trees like this one are living heritage and are protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.

 

 

Maps

Bataluk Cultural Trail
Clan areas on the Bataluk Cultural Trail
View Larger Map

Contact

Krowathunkooloong Keeping Place
Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative
37 - 53 Dalmahoy Street
Bairnsdale
Tel: (03) 5152 1891

Visitor Information Centres Orbost  (03) 5154 2424
Lakes Entrance  (03) 5155 1966
Bairnsdale  (03) 5152 3444
Maffra  (03) 5141 1811
Sale  1800 677 520

Sites

  1. white woman's waterhole
    won wron state reserve
  2. the lagoon
    sale common state game reserve
  3. the knob reserve
    stratford
  4. ramahyuck cemetery
    perry bridge
  5. den of nargun
    mitchell river national park
  6. krowathunkooloong keeping place
    bairnsdale
  7. howitt park
    bairnsdale
  8. legend rock
    metung
  9. buchan caves
    buchan
  10. burnt bridge reserve
    lake tyers forest park
  11. salmon rock and gunai boardwalk
    cape conran

 

Please treat all sites along the trail with respect and care to ensure they are preserved for future generations.