Aboriginal Melbourne: Past and Present - XL4

Itinerary:

Valid for 01APR23-31MAR25:
Summary:
Melbourne Through the Eyes of its Ancestors.

Melbourne’s urban centre encompasses high rise buildings, beautiful gardens, and iconic landmarks. Underneath this modern cityscape lie incredible stories of Aboriginal culture, beliefs and the history of Australia’s First Nations people and their modern community that exists today. Join MPT on a tour of Melbourne old and new; an engaging city experience that respectfully discovers Indigenous Melbourne and its transformation over the centuries into a global multicultural city. Led by a local Aboriginal host, embark on a cultural journey in the morning discovering Melbourne’s various Aboriginal nations and clans. Walk along the city’s main artery, Birrarung (the Yarra River), historically a major food source for Aboriginal people flowing 242 kilometres from the Yarra Ranges (north east of Melbourne) through the city centre and out into Port Phillip Bay. Understand the significance of local sites such as where the present-day Melbourne Cricket Ground stands – once a gathering place of the Kulin Nation, and the nearby scar tree whose bark was used for the creation of canoes and shelters. You’ll gain insight into Melbourne’s past, along with what life is like in modern Melbourne for Aboriginal Australians.

Looking to the Next Generation of Indigenous Australians.

With your MPT guide, travel to the eccentric suburb of Fitzroy for lunch at Charcoal Lane. Apart from creating exquisite, contemporary Australian cuisine, Charcoal Lane is a social enterprise aiming to provide young Aboriginal people with the skills and mentoring to enter, develop and grow within the workforce. Meet the chef as they join you at your table with a native tasting plate and explain the Australian ingredients incorporated into your dining experience. Stroll along Gertrude Street observing sites of historical importance to the Aboriginal community alongside striking murals reminding residents and visitors of the city’s Aboriginal heart. Continue exploring the city of Melbourne and its icons, hidden laneways filled with street art, a bustling dining scene with highly sought-after restaurants and lively bars, as well as the peaceful parks and gardens that surround this contemporary town. This tour is an informative and unique way to discover Melbourne’s past and present through the eyes of its First Nations people.

Highlights:

- Private walking tour led by a local Wurundjeri community member, hearing stories and learning the history of Melbourne.

- Visit places of Aboriginal significance in the middle of central Melbourne.

- Melbourne icons - Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, The Royal Exhibition Building and The Golden Mile.

- Laneways and Arcades with hidden boutiques, cafes and world-famous street art.- Indulge in local cuisine created using native Australian ingredients.