Today I wanted to take you out bush and if you’re lucky maybe we can find some Bush Tucker food. “The bush” is a term used for rural, undeveloped land or country areas in Australia. However, today I am going to cheat and take you to a favourite place of mine the
Bolin Bolin Billabong in Bulleen.
I love this walk for its tranquil and secluded nature despite being surprisingly close to suburbia. And, I’m sure for those of you joining me for my A to Z challenge will agree, it also has a wonderful amount of B’s!
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| Bulleen Park sculpture inspired by eucalypt blossoms. |
It feels important early on in my ‘Wandering Victoria’ posts for an Acknowledgement to Country*‘ to show respect for the traditional custodians of the land in which we will be travelling.
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| Acknowledgement to Country |
I know, I know, what you’re thinking, why the Banksia, didn’t she do that on A is for… Aboriginal Elder? Me too! Anyway moving swiftly on, let me show you this area of inspirational natural beauty on the banks of the Yarra river.
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| Banksia |
A billabong is a lake or pond caused when a river, in this case, Melbourne’s famous Yarra river changes course. The Yarra river’s aboriginal name is Birrarung meaning ever-flowing.
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| Yarra River in Bulleen Park |
Bolin Bolin Billabong was the largest lake/billabong in the area and it has long been an important site as a meeting place for the Kulin Nation. They say that food was rich and plentiful, with sufficient fish, eels and ducks in easy supply to feed those attending the great ceremonies. The area was considered a sacred site and up to 1000 people would gather for up to four or five weeks.
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| The Yarra river starts in the Yarra Valley, winds through Melbourne and ends at Port Phillip Bay |
Today the area is a peaceful walk and one of my favourite with the Crazy Poodle as he can run the whole way round off lead.
As we walk in the shade of the old river gums, we can hear the birds although we don’t often get to spot them… There is something magical though if we do spot a kookaburra ‘sitting in the old gum tree’ as the words of our famous Aussie song by Marion Sinclair goes:
‘Kookaburra sits in the old Gum tree
Merry, merry King of the bush is he.
Laugh! Kookaburra laugh
Gay your life must be’
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| Old red river gum trees
The gum or eucalyptus tree is the most common tree found in Australia. |
With the dog, I don’t often come across wildlife. I am always watchful of him as the area is prone to snakes. We did come across this fellow the other day, which left the Crazy Poodle a trembling mess!
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| Goanna |
They say that if you’re in tune with such things you can feel the history of the place come alive. You can sense the magic, imagine the area full of Wurundjeri
Indigenous people as you walk in their footsteps.
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| Bolin Bolin Billabong
Here is a map of the area. It’s been lovely to have you all along for the ride |
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Start and finish Bulleen Park, 175 Bulleen Road, Bulleen, Vic, Australia
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It is lovely to have you here, especially for the newbies and Bette ticking off another place on her bucket list. Good job Margaret has brought her binoculars to spot some more wildlife and a good lunch spot for that open sarnie! Cynthia, you’re looking lovely in your swimmers and polka dot wellies, would you like a swim? Ashmita I know you’re hungry and I’m sorry that we haven’t found much in the way of bush tucker today, but lucky us to have had Sami bring along her avocado mousse. Jill, great to have another Aussie here, please chip in anything I have missed? Eileen, I knew you’d love the Koala, he’s there just for you! 🙂 Fiona you are always so lovely about my photos, thank you for stopping by as I know you are away travelling! Karen, you doing well that’s two out of two, I’m impressed always lovely to have you here, my friend 🙂
I have been participating in the Blogging from A-Z
Other participants can be found here.
See you on Monday with C is for…
PS: Wander Victoria is an initiative of our Victorian State Government to encourage us to explore the charms of regional Victoria. You can find out more on my previous post here
The traditional ‘Welcome to Country’ conducted by an Aboriginal Elder or Acknowledgement of Country’ conducted by is a way that all people can show awareness and respect for Aboriginal culture and heritage and the ongoing relationship the traditional owners have with their land [1].
