The Birrarung Code
The Yarra has played a pivotal role in the pre-European history and the modern development of Melbourne. To the original Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, the original inhabitants of the Melbourne area, the river was “birrarung" – 'river of mists and shadows'. Unlike today, where the river marks a township boundary, Wurundjeri people saw it as the centrepiece, accessing both sides of the river, often felling a large gum tree to act as a bridge across the water.
The Yarra provided water, food and transport to the Wurundjeri people. They camped on both banks of the river, they caught eels in the swamps and lagoons of the river and fished using funnel-shaped fish pots. The barks of large gum trees were cut from the trunk and shaped into canoes such that they could fish, hunt and travel along the river with ease.
With the abundance of natural resources provided by the Birrarung and surrounding wetlands, it took only two hours of work a day to feed a family. The remainder of the day was spent on cultural, spiritual, educational and recreational pursuits.
The tribe has indeed a strong storytelling culture. Many Wurundjeri stories describe how the geography of the area was formed long ago. One such story is a tale of two adventurous boys who, while searching for wattle gum to chew, accidentally upset an old man from his long sleep. The old man decides to teach the boys a lesson. Bunjil, the eagle, comes to their rescue but not before the boys' frightened tears falling into the tracks of the old man have formed the river we now know as the Yarra.
Since European arrival the Birrarung landscape has changed dramatically, primarily due to increased population, farming and gold mining. These changes had a profound impact on the Wurundjeri people and their ability to live a traditional land based lifestyle. The traditional Wurundjeri life along the Birrarung had been entirely lost.
By unlocking the Birrarung code today you will help us to revive the traditional owners of this beautiful land and preserve and share their cultural heritage.
Finding the cache is not enough to demonstrate your value in this case.
You must unlock the Birrarung Code and leave a physical proof of your success by signing the logbook.