In a landmark legal move that represents generations of cultural connection, eleven members of the Wurundjeri people have filed a comprehensive native title claim covering substantial portions of Melbourne and surrounding Victorian regions. The application, lodged with the Federal Court, marks what participants describe as an incredibly proud moment for their community.
Understanding the Scope of the Claim
The extensive claim encompasses more than 10,000 square kilometres of territory stretching from the Great Dividing Range through the Macedon Ranges, across the Yarra Valley and Mount Baw Baw, and down to Port Phillip Bay. Among the significant Crown land sites within this vast area are the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), numerous shopping centres, multiple golf courses, public parks, and beaches.
Wurundjeri representative Darcy Cohen-Hunter has moved to reassure Australian residents that the legal action exclusively applies to Crown land and will not impact private properties, businesses, or existing infrastructure. "I do want to make it incredibly clear to everybody that this process does not encompass private land," Mr Cohen-Hunter emphasised in comments to the ABC. "So anyone that is concerned about that - we do not have any claim to private land."
He further clarified that the focus remains primarily on national parks and similar Crown land areas where traditional owners seek formal recognition of their enduring connection to country.
Cultural Significance and Legal Implications
For the Wurundjeri community, this legal action represents the culmination of extensive preparation and reflects their ongoing cultural responsibilities. Mr Cohen-Hunter described the claim as having "been a long time in the making," underscoring its importance for cultural practice and land management.
"It's important to us that we have a say in the lands and waters that we have been caring for for generations," he explained. "Obviously this is an incredibly proud moment for our mob. It's about that formal recognition and being able to practice our culture and have a say in the land."
If successful, the native title determination would grant formal rights under federal law, including decision-making authority over public land use and mandatory consultation regarding activities within the claimed areas. Indigenous elders would gain significant influence over management of affected land and waterways, with particular authority regarding the protection of culturally significant sites.
Broader Context and Community Perspectives
Wurundjeri elder Di Kerr framed the legal process as fundamentally about securing legal recognition for existing cultural truths. "Ensuring our connection to country is recognised in law, as it has always existed in truth," Dr Kerr stated, while expressing a desire for collaborative management approaches with government bodies and Parks Victoria.
Fellow elder Perry Wandin addressed common misconceptions that often arise when native title claims are launched. "Everyone thinks we're coming after their properties," he noted, before clarifying that the Wurundjeri objective centres on cooperative land management rather than property acquisition.
The claim arrives within a significant period for Indigenous rights in Victoria, coming just one week after the state's controversial treaty legislation passed through Parliament. While formal negotiations between the government and Indigenous representative bodies aren't scheduled to commence until July 2026, a public ratification event with the First Peoples Assembly is planned for Federation Square on December 12.
This application joins six other native title claims currently before the Federal Court in Victoria, which collectively cover most of the state. The legal firm Slater and Gordon is representing the Wurundjeri claim, which will present historical evidence demonstrating continuous cultural connection to country, including knowledge transmission across generations regarding land management, ceremony, fishing, hunting, language, and artistic traditions.
The National Native Title Tribunal will now consider the application, with potential outcomes informed by precedents such as the Noongar people's successful native title settlement covering Perth in 2021 and the Kaurna people's claim recognition in the Adelaide area in 2018. Seven native titles have already been granted in Victoria through previous court determinations.
