Bolin Swamp
Bulleen Road, Bulleen (192.08)Bolin Swamp contains one of a group of remaining billabongs within the Bulleen and Templestowe area, and one of few along the metropolitan course of the River Yarra. Within the billabong is a fine stand of River Red Gums, individuals of which possibly pre date white settlement.
The remaining vegetation is mainly exotic grasses and Solanum species, with an Elm copse to the south west slope.
Natural drainage is cut off by an embankment at the eastern end of the billabong. The southern bank is undergoing development as a residential subdivision which will be a future source of environmental weeds.
The Bolin Swamp area is of great significance to the Wurundjeri, the Aboriginal group associated with the Melbourne region.
A botanical assessment and management plan are required to safeguard the billabong and Red Gums, and to direct the elimination of environmental weeds and re-establishment of an indigenous vegetation community.
Of State significance for its natural and cultural values.
Excerpt from: City of Doncaster and Templestowe Heritage Study 1991 Richard Peterson p. 21
http://www.manningham.vic.gov.au/file/26126/download
Lake Bulleen and the Aborigines
In 1837, surveyor Robert Hoddle designated the land between the Yarra-Yarra River and the Koonung-Koonung Creek the "Parish of Bulleen", because Bulleen was the native name for the Yarra at Mr. Wood's station.
In 1840, the Protector of Aborigines, Mr. Thomas, began referring to an Aboriginal encampment at Bolin, a large lagoon opposite Heidelberg. This in time became known as Lake Bulleen, and was an expansion of the Yarra-Yarra River, lying on low ground about a mile north of the junction on the Koonung-Koonung Creek. It's extent was about 50 to 60 acres depending m the season.
There were numerous smaller lagoons along the meanders of this part of the Yarra, where members of the Yarra-Yarra tribe fished for eels and hunted other game while encamped for up to seven weeks before resuming their peregrinations.
The lagoons remained the haunt of the Aborigines until 1841 when Superintendent C. J. La Trobe directed Mr. Thomas to keep his charges well away from purchased land.
Since the last visit of the Aborigines, a village had sprung up at Heidelberg, and Mr. L. Bolden complained of depredations and threatening gestures by Aborigines. Mr. Thomas also found that kangaroos and other large game had become rare on account of there being no less than four settlers (squatters) and numerous splitters and sawyers in the neighbourhood.
In the same year, Mr. F. W. Unwin took possession of his purchase of eight square miles, later known as the Carlton Estate. In March 1841, Protector Thomas wrote: "When Bolin and the few lagoons adjacent becomes private property, it will be one of the most serious losses hitherto sustained by the blacks".
Ken Smith writing in 1984 12 DTHS Newsletter
Bulleen
The name Bulleen originates from the nearby Bolin Bolin Billabong. Buln-Buln translates to lyrebird,[2] which is generally accepted to be the suburb's name meaning.
The Bulleen billabongs were an important territory for the Manna Gum people for approximately 5,000 years.[4] Generations had lived on the river flats when wild fish and ducks were abundant. Bolin was the largest lake/billabong in the area and was a significant ritual meeting place for the aborigines, where numerous corroborees were held either by the billabong or on the hills. But by 1841, manager and protector of the aborigines William Thomas received different orders.
Extract from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulleen,_Victoria
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wurundjeri
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