The Yarra River flows 242 kilometres from its source in the Yarra Ranges and through Melbourne before emptying into Hobsons Bay – it is the heart and soul of our city.
But how much do you actually know about the Yarra, originally Birrarung, and what it meant to its earliest inhabitants, the
Kulin People?
Walkin' Birrarung is a free tour run by the
Koorie Heritage Trust that offers participants the opportunity to explore significant places of the Kulin People.
The tour, which is approximately two hours in length, begins at Enterprize Park on the Yarra's north bank and continues upstream. You will stop to hear stories about Colonial Melbourne and get in touch with the river, which is what tour guide Dean Stewart once called "the veins and arteries of the land".
The tour concludes at Federation Square.
There is also an optional (but worthwhile) visit to an Aboriginal public art space.
Walkin' Birrarung is fast becoming a popular tour for Melburnians and tourists alike.
This is a wonderful way to connect with the land. You'll walk away with a different perspective about our glorious city.
