As part of our new Integrated topic this term ‘First Contacts,’ we are learning about the impact of the European Settlement on Indigenous Australian culture.

Have you ever wondered what traditional life was like for the Wurundjeri people (the Aboriginal tribe of the Melbourne area)? Well, take a trip to Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne and you are sure to learn lots of new information!

We spent the first half of the day with our guide Bridget, who guided us through 3 activities:

• Indigenous tools – we learnt a lot about how Indigenous people used materials from the bic (land) to make tools for hunting, cooking and clothing. Cordials made from nectar, bags made from reeds, fire sticks and spear throwers. 

• Indigenous art – ochre is a type of paint used to tell and pass on stories through art. We learnt how to make the red and orange paint from rocks and left our own mark at the gardens…until the next rainfall that is!

• Indigenous food –  There were so many wonderful smelling plants which excited our senses as we walked through the garden. We heard how the indigenous people used various plants for water, seasoning such as salty pig face and much more. We even drank some delicious warm lemon myrtle tea!

We then finished the day off with a scavenger hunt throughout the gardens with various challenges which brought out the competitive and creative side in many of us – particularly the adults! Challenges included: make a stick sculpture, sniff out the plant with the best smell and hug a tree with smooth bark. 

Be sure to check our individual student blog pages to see the group research videos that 4T have created on their own Indigenous culture inquiry questions. 

Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne 2019

4T, you can find these photos and more in our shared folder.

What was your most interesting part of the day at Cranbourne Gardens?