Pre-European Merri Creek

aborigines on merri creek charles troedel, 1865

the wurundjeri-willam original occupants of northern suburbs of melbourne. name comes aboriginal word wurrun meaning white gum tree . wurundjeri-willam clan consisting of number of extended families. during first years of contact europeans, wurundjeri-willam people represented influential senior men such billibellary, respected elder. billibellary’s clan lived on northern bank of yarra , territory extended yarra bend northwards along merri creek.

the creek supplied wurundjeri-willam abundance of food such eel, fish, , duck. women waded through merri string bags suspended around neck, searching bottom of stream shellfish. emu , kangaroo hunted in surrounding grasslands. in forests , hills, possum staple source of food , clothing, flesh of possum cooked , eaten, while skin saved sewn valuable waterproof cloaks.