TheBunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation is aRegistered Aboriginal Party andincorporated association representing theBunurong (Boon wurrung) community in the state ofVictoria, Australia, particularly in matters relating to the VictorianAboriginal Heritage Act 2006.[1]
The corporation provides cultural heritage and environmental land management advice and is the approval body for Cultural Heritage Management Plans on Bunorong land.[2] It is also often consulted by schools to provide culturally appropriate advice for lessons.[3] The Bunurong Land Council cultural policy area encapsulates Bunurong traditional lands, waters and cosmos commencing from theWerribee River east aroundPort Phillip Bay,Mornington Peninsula,Western Port andSouth Gippsland coastline toWilson's Promontory. Inland Bunurong boundaries are the watersheds that flow into Port Phillip, Western Port and Bass coastline.[4]
In June 2021, the boundaries between the land of two of thetraditional owner groups ingreater Melbourne, theWurundjeri and Boon wurrung/Bunurong, were agreed between the two groups, after being drawn up by theVictorian Aboriginal Heritage Council. The new borderline runs across the city from west to east, with theCBD,Richmond andHawthorn included in Wurundjeri land, andAlbert Park,St Kilda andCaulfield on Bunurong land. It was agreed thatMount Cottrell, the site of amassacre in 1836 with at least 10Wathaurong victims, would be jointly managed above the 160 m (520 ft) line. The twoRegistered Aboriginal Parties representing the two groups were the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and theWurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation. The change means that the corporation will be responsible for a much greater area of land, which also includes heritage objects which may be found underneath the city when excavations are undertaken for new buildings.[3]
As of June 2021[update], Dan Turnbull isCEO of the corporation,[3] while the Cultural Heritage Manager isRob Ogden. The organisation is based inFrankston.[5]