Heritage
The land now known as Kinglake National Park has been important to people for many years and in many different ways. It has provided shelter and food, spiritual wellbeing, inspiration, gold, water and timber. Kinglake National Park came into being in 1928 when 5,590ha was first reserved. With reservation came protection and its value as a sanctuary to be protected for future generations was recognised. The park is a site for research and nature study, and a place to escape and enjoy with family and friends. The Great Dividing Range was the boundary between the Wurundjeri people to the south and the Taunerong people to the north. Aboriginal people had an intimate knowledge of the geography, flora and fauna of the country. European settlers entered the Kinglake area in the hope of striking it rich. Shafts and diggings around the park are evidence of the gold mining days, but the gold fields were not very rich and soon timber cutting replaced mining in importance. By the 1920s the accessible timber supply was running out and potatoes and berry fruits became the principal products. Agriculture brought large-scale clearing - seen by several prominent local people as a threat to the natural values of the area - so Kinglake National Park was created in 1928. Kinglake was popular for picnics, honeymoons and other outings in the 1920s and 30s. (The area was named after the celebrated English author and lawyer, Alexander William Kinglake). Since then the park has grown through land donations and acquisitions. For many thousands of years Wurundjeri and Taungurung people inhabited this area and made use of the abundance of seasonally available flora and fauna, and to carry-out important cultural duties. Flora and fauna served many purposes including temporary shelters, transport, food, medicine, clothing, hunting implements and many other important cultural items. Seasonal movement within their traditional lands was determined by the availability of food and weather conditions. Present day Wurundjeri and Taungurung people still have a very strong connection with this area. Many Aboriginal sites have been uncovered by the fires including scatters and hand tools. These sites are being surveyed and recorded so that they can be protected forever. Aboriginal Traditional Owners Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters.
Further information is available from Aboriginal Affairs Victoria AAV and Native Title Services Victoria Indigenous People
The area now known as Kinglake National Park is located within the Traditional land of the Wurundjeri people to the south and Taungurung people to the north.
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