Experience Aboriginal cultures in Melbourne
Immerse yourself in the history and modern culture of the Kulin nation with these experiences and guided Aboriginal tours right in the heart of Melbourne.
By Allie Metz
A city of incredible cultural diversity, Melbourne offers the chance for visitors to connect with people from all corners of the globe. It’s also home to a strong and close-knit Aboriginal community that is eager to share its stories. Discover these unique inner-city experiences for authentic insights into the living context and legacy of Australia’s First Peoples.
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne Gardens - Aboriginal Heritage Walk
Aboriginal Heritage Walk, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne Gardens, Victoria
When to go
Attend the 'Deadly Funny' showcase during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival to hear from Australia's best First Nations comedians.
Explore Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens on a cultural tour with an Aboriginal guide. The Heritage Walk provides a unique insight into the history of both the Gardens (ancestral lands of the Kulin nation) and its Traditional Owners. The tour includes a guided walk through the gardens and discussion about the traditional uses of plants as a source of food, tools and medicine. Your tour will finish with a delicious cup of lemon myrtle tea.
Koorie Heritage Trust cultural walk
Koorie Heritage Trust, Melbourne, Victoria © Archie Sartracom, Tourism Australia
An Aboriginal-owned and managed organisation, the Koorie Heritage Trust offers visitors to Melbourne an excellent opportunity to discover an authentic and immersive urban Aboriginal cultural experience. Start by exploring the Trust’s collection of art works and artefacts on display at their location in Federation Square before joining a guide for one of the cultural walks. These historical and cultural tours will take you along the Birrarung (Yarra River) to explore beautiful art installations as well as significant sites that date back thousands of years.
Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre
Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Melbourne Museum, Victoria
Housed inside the Melbourne Museum, Bunjilaka presents the Koorie experience in an immersive and moving permanent exhibition, complete with interactive features for a self-guided tour. Be sure to visit the Milarri Gardens to discover plants significant to the First Peoples of Victoria. You can also watch eels being fed in the garden pond as guides discuss the history of this important food source for local people. The art space, Birrarung Gallery, also features temporary and touring exhibitions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
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National Gallery of Victoria
Ian Potter Centre, National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Melbourne, Victoria © Tourism Australia
Explore Victoria's largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art with a visit to the National Gallery of Victoria's Ian Potter Centre. Browse the wide array of treasures displayed at your own pace, or embark on a First Nations art Gallery and Conservation Experience to go behind the scenes with resident experts. Discover how Indigenous art is restored and cared for and explore the gallery with a curator.
