6 Important Places to Learn About Aboriginal History in Melbourne

Places just makes more sense when you understand the history of where you’re standing. Melbourne is no exception. Built on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country, part of the Kulin Nation, this area has been a place of living culture, knowledge-sharing and connection to land for tens of thousands of years. There’s endless depth to what you can learn. So, adding a few dedicated cultural and educational sites to your itinerary will help you to place the visit in a much more accurate context.

Understanding Aboriginal History in Melbourne

Before colonisation, and long before Melbourne existed, the lands around the Birrarung (Yarra River) supported complex Aboriginal societies. Trade routes moved through the vast region and detailed knowledge of plants, waterways, and climate guided how Country was cared for and used.

This particular area is part of the Country of the Kulin Nation; a group of allied Aboriginal peoples that includes the Wurundjeri, Boon Wurrung, Taungurung, Dja Dja Wurrung, and Wathaurong language groups. With a strong connection to Country their relationship with the land never ended, even after colonisation and it continues today through culture, community and ongoing custodianship.

However, British colonisation in the 1830s brought violent disruption, dispossession of land, and policies that restricted movement, language and life. The impacts were severe and long-lasting. Even so, local Aboriginal cultures in Melbourne did not disappear and they have continued through adaptation, resistance and the passing on of knowledge.

So for visitors visiting what is now Melbourne, learning about Aboriginal history is super important and happens in all kinds of ways. Community-led organisations, museums, guided walks on Country, public artworks, and interpreted landscapes each offer different forms of insight. Together, these experiences help build a clearer understanding of both the deep history of this place and the continuing presence of Aboriginal peoples in the city.

6 Important Places to Learn About Aboriginal History in Melbourne

We’ve picked out a selection of the most important places in Melbourne where this learning is shared thoughtfully, with context, and through sources grounded in Aboriginal knowledge and experience.

During your visit, you should definitely make time to visit at least one.

1. Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Melbourne Museum

Bunjilaka is one of the most obvious and structured places to learn about Aboriginal history in Victoria, because the core exhibitions were developed as a shared project between Museums Victoria and the Victorian Aboriginal community; guided by the First Peoples Yulendj Group of Elders and community representatives.

The permanent First Peoples exhibition introduces key themes such as many nations and language groups, continuity of culture, and the impact of colonisation. Material is shaped by community knowledge and fascinating stories.

Practical note: Melbourne Museum sits in Carlton Gardens, near the CBD, so this is an easy first stop for visitors who want a grounding before heading out to other sites.

2. Koorie Heritage Trust, Federation Square

Koorie Heritage Trust is a First Peoples-led organisation in the centre of Melbourne, with exhibitions and cultural experiences designed to share Victorian Aboriginal culture and history in a more contemporary setting.

One of the most effective ways to learn here is through guided cultural walks, a great alternative to being inside in a museum. The Birrarung Wilam (River Camp) Walk begins at Federation Square and follows the Birrarung (Yarra River), using key sites and public artworks to explain Kulin Nation connections to Country.

Practical note: KHT has free entry and is open daily, which makes it a low-barrier addition to any itinerary.

3. Scar Trees, best learned via a guided walk

Scar trees are living evidence of cultural practice, created when bark was removed for practical uses such as canoes, containers, or shields.

In Melbourne, the most reliable way to learn about this properly is through a guided program that provides cultural and historical context. Koorie Heritage Trust runs a Scar Tree Walk and related guided cultural experiences that begin at Federation Square and connect to sites and installations along the Birrarung corridor.

Practical note: If you include scar trees in a list, linking them to an Aboriginal-led guide reduces the risk of turning cultural markers into a scavenger hunt.

4. Aboriginal Heritage Walk, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Some of us learn better outside and on our feet, and that’s why this options is a great one. This guided walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens is led by a First Peoples guide, focused on the Kulin Nation connection to this area and the cultural significance of plants.

The walk specifically covers Aboriginal plant uses, customs, and ongoing connection to Country.

Visitors learn in-place, through the landscape, using the Gardens as a teaching environment rather than just a backdrop. The program runs across set dates and is presented as a First Peoples’ Knowledge Tour, so keep an eye out!

5. Birrarung Marr and Birrarung Wilam (Common Ground) installations

Birrarung Marr is an inner-city park beside the Birrarung (Yarra River). The City of Melbourne notes the name reflects “river of mists”, and the site history includes former railway uses before the park opened in 2002.

Public art along the Birrarung includes Birrarung Wilam, a series of works exploring Aboriginal culture in Victoria, as well as Angel by Deborah Halpern near the river and the Federation Bells, which play three times daily.

From Federation Square, you could also join Indigenous history tours or walk east along the river to Speakers’ Corner (Yarra Bank), a site used for public meetings and debate for more than a century.

6. The Ian Potter Centre, NGV Australia, Federation Square

The Ian Potter Centre houses the NGV’s Australian art collection, including works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, giving you a fantastic way to learn through visual culture, materials, and artist narratives.

For visitors, this works very well as a “context builder”. You can see how Indigenous art sits within Australian art history across time here, alongside all kinds of contemporary works.

Where to stay in Melbourne

Adelphi Hotel Melbourne

Flinders Lane does a lot of the talking in this part of Melbourne, and staying at Adelphi means stepping straight into the city’s laneway culture, coffee, galleries and shops. The river and Southbank are an easy walk away.

Adelphi Hotel suits travellers who like to explore the city on foot and dip in and out of whatever catches their attention rather than sticking to a fixed plan. Plus, the unique design of the lobby and rooms make things feel super special.

Book your stay at the Adelphi Hotel.

Urban on Elizabeth

Elizabeth Street is a part of the city that shows its practical side. From Urban on Elizabeth, Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne Central, and multiple tram lines are all close, which makes it easy to get oriented quickly.

The apartment-style setup works is idea for longer stays or trips that mix sightseeing with downtime, giving you somewhere that feels usable between outings.

Book your stay at Urban on Elizabeth.

Chateau Yering

A little further out, Chateau Yering is located in the Yarra Valley on land first settled in the 1850s, and the original buildings still shape how the property works today.

Large rooms, historic details, and surrounding gardens give the place a sense of separation from the city. Staying here suits trips focused on the Yarra Valley itself, wineries, regional food, short drives, and time spent on the grounds rather than moving between neighbourhoods.

Book your stay at Chateau Yering.