The Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung are the Traditional Owners of Royal Park and its surrounds.

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage refers to the physical and spiritual expression of Aboriginal people's cultural identity. It encompasses intangible elements like mythology, language, and spirituality, as well as tangible forms such as scarred trees, ceremonial sites, camp sites, and meeting places.

The Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 recognises Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAP) as the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage. Prior to 1 July 2021, there was no RAP for the southern half of Royal Park (from Macarthur Road / Elliott Avenue south to the park boundary) and the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation was the RAP for the area to the north of Macarthur / Elliott. On 1 July 2021, the RAP boundary of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation was extended to include the whole of Royal Park.

We are committed to raising awareness and promoting Melbourne’s Aboriginal Cultural Heritage, including through initiatives of the Council Plan 2021–25 and the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2021–23.

Recognising Traditional Owner connection to Country has the potential to enrich everyone’s experience of Royal Park.

Previous Royal Park master plans were silent on Aboriginal culture, heritage and knowledge, however we know that the area now known as Royal Park has been occupied and managed by Aboriginal people for thousands of generations, and that it holds important associations for the Aboriginal history of Melbourne.