Coranderrk Mission Station
Coranderrk Aboriginal Station was established in 1863 as a Mission for Aboriginal people who had been dispossessed of their land. The Station was overseen by a group titled Central Board Appointed to Watch Over the Interests of Aborigines and operated by a Scottish missionary, John Green, who respected Aboriginal traditions, language and culture. Coranderrk operated as a self-sufficient station, with access to rich soil, plants and waterways year-round. Men hunted for food and skins while women made baskets, rugs and traditional tools which they sold to visitors and across Melbourne. In the 1870s, the Board forced John Green's resignation due to conflicting ideologies and new management at the station became more authoritarian for Aboriginal people and effectively limited the function of the station. Coupled with Half Caste Act which saw the removal of 'half caste' people (anyone with both Aboriginal and European ancestry) between 15 and 35 years old removed from the station, this period of severe mismanagement and oppression reduced the Aboriginal population at Coranderrk to just 31 people. In 1924, Coranderrk was officially closed, with many Aboriginal residents being relocated to Lake Tyers. Today, a 200 acre portion of the Coranderrk station is owned by the Indigenous Lanwd and Sea Corporation and managed by Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation.
Similar places of importance
EY would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we meet today, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation and pay our respect to their Elders both past and present, and to emerging community leaders. We also acknowledge the important role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within EY and in the communities we work with.
