Flora, Fauna, rock formations, and cultural history in the Grampians.

6/2/2019

Pimple rocks I call them :-). Those bumps, sure help make the walk safer.

Aboriginal Art Sites
Aboriginal rock art sites are Gulgurn Manja Shelter, Ngamadjidj Shelter , Billimina Shelter and Manja Shelter.

In our final week in the Grampians, Reg and I revisited some of the aboriginal rock art sites.
Due to the sacred nature of these sites, I did not take photographs of sites considered sacred to Aboriginal people.
The Grampians Mountains (also known by the Aboriginal name ‘Gariwerd’) contain 80% of Victoria’s Aboriginal art sites.

Bunjil's Shelter
This is one of the most important aboriginal rock art sites in the Gariwerd/Grampians region. Bunjil was known as a good spirit who created things as they are today and gave the tribes their law and culture. This area is 11 kilometres from Stawell. Look for the signposts to the site off the Stawell-Pomonal Road.

Gulgurn Manja Shelter
Gulgurn Manja means 'hands of young people.' The Gulgurn Manja Shelter displays small handprints in red ochre. Signage outlines some of the stories and legends of the Jardwadjali people and the mountains they call Gariwerd. Gulgurn Manja Shelter is off the Mt Zero Road, Northern Gariwerd/Grampians.

Ngamadjidj Shelter
This is the ideal location for people with limited mobility to view Aboriginal art. A short easy-grade walk from the carpark takes you to a site of ancient rock art depicting dancing spirits with white painted figures. You access Ngamadjidj Shelter from Plantation Road and Grampians Road, Northern Gariwerd/Grampians.

Billimina Shelter
Billimina Shelter is accessed from Billywing Road off Henty Highway, western Gariwerd/Grampians. The walk begins at the Buandik camping ground. We followed the Billimina Creek upstream to the Buandik Falls. From there, a short walk led us to the shelter. This massive rock overhang was once a meeting place for the Jardwadjali people and is covered with over 2,500 motifs that consist of red ochre bar strokes.

Manja Shelter
You access Manja Shelter off Harrap Track via Glenelg River Road and Henty Highway, western Gariwerd/Grampians. It is an easy walk from the carpark to Manja Shelter in the western Gariwerd/Grampians. Manja symbolises the link between the Jardwadjali and their land. This rock site has more hand stencils than any other site in Victoria. It is believed that the hand stencils were a way of recording a visit to this incredible rock overhang.

Gulgurn Manja Shelter
Gulgurn Manja means 'hands of young people.' The Gulgurn Manja Shelter displays small handprints in red ochre. I loved that there was signage around the site telling some of the stories and legends of the Jardwadjali people and the Grampians Mountains that they call Gariwerd. You will find Gulgurn Manja off the Mt Zero Road, northern Gariwerd/Grampians.