1.1 ANCIENT HISTORY OF PORT PHILLIP

Water as a Path

Designing Cultural Landscapes Through a Study of Indigenous Understanding of Country and Seasons

Ancient History of Port Philip

Victoria is an ancient land that was once inundated by the sea long ago, peaking at about 65m above current sea level. The sea passes through the existing coast between the Fleurieu Peninsula and Mount Gambier in South Australia, forming a large bay that extends to the northeast. Nearly half of Victoria is inundated by seawater, including Port Phillip

The majority of the upper soils in the coastal area of Philip consist of Quaternary sandy sediments. The sediments are both onshore and offshore, suggesting that this harbor experienced both low and high sea levels.

Coastal Sea Level Change Of Port Phillip

Based on the extent of the sediment distribution, it is possible to see the location of the shoreline of Port Phillip at different times in history.

Aboriginal Background In Port Phillip

The events of floods and droughts in Port Phillip are also documented in the historical stories of the indigenous people. 1 The distribution of the existing cultural heritage area shows the relationship between their range of activities and water resources.

INDIGINOUS PEOPLE HAVE A LONG LIVING HISTORY WITH WATER IN PORT PHILLIP

Ancient Flood History of Fishermans Bend

Surface Geology And Ancient Activities Distribution Of Fishermans Bend

Fishermans bend, an estuarine delta formed by the geological development of the Yarra River, has a history of repeated flooding over thousands of years, as evidenced by its subsurface layers after layers of sand accumulation and stories of local indigenous history.

Aboriginal Activities Distribution

Because of the lower elevation and frequent flooding, Fishermans Bend once had extensive wetlands and was a rich hunting and gathering ground for game, fish and tubers. A tribe named Yalukit William long managed the land.

Indigenous land use had major impacts on ecosystems over time. There was a co-existence between the environment and Indigenous occupants.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAND AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES

Patrick Geddes Valley Section

It is not really that they did no damage, but just that they worked more as custodians and managed and cared for the land.

GEOLOGY FORMATION OF THE YARRA DELTA (FISHERMANS BEND) SITE LANDUSE CHANGE OF THE YARRA DELTA (FISHERMANS BEND)

Water was an important part of Fishermans Bend. This included the river and port, as well as many wetlands. There was a variety of landscape-filled water in the past.

Today most wetlands have been covered up and developed going through different priorities. Water stood out but in a different way. Now the water sends through drainage pipes.

An estuarine delta formed by the geological development, with a history of repeated flooding over thousands of years.