Historical information

The Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People were the original owners of the land on which the City of Boroondara is now located. They made active use of the Yarra for food and transport [an original canoe is held in the collection of the Melbourne Museum]. From 1863, members of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung were resettled at the Corranderrk Aboriginal reserve at Healesville. The [now] best known member of the Wurundjeri People was William Barak, who may be pictured here.

Significance

If the attribution in the annotation is correct, then this may be the earliest photograph of members of the Wurundjeri People at Kew. The photo may be unique.

Physical description

Hand tinted photograph on mounting card of members of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung on the banks of the River Yarra, allegedly at Studley Park before 1855 [according to the annotation on the reverse] The photograph of the river and its near and far banks includes two boats on the river, a row boat and a canoe, and people standing on the near bank or seated on the branch of a tree. In addition to men and women of the Wurundjeri People, there appears to be two Europeans pictured, one wearing a hat and the other standing at right. Annotations on the reverse identify a [possible] location and date.
[Size: Mount 140 x 215mm | Photograph 125 x 190mm]

Inscriptions & markings

Various hands and dates: "Original lead pencil lettering Studley Yarra Yarra / Yarra Yarra Studley / Studley (Park?) / Note aboriginals in a bark canoe / Prior 1855 / Very early photo Yarra River originally known as the Yarra Yarra / [illegible part word in ink]".