Bama Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Survey |

For the first time, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has completed a five-day Aboriginal cultural heritage survey of the 3,200-hectare Bama Forest on the Murray River near Moama, part of Murray Valley Regional Park.

The survey recorded an incredible 177 Aboriginal sites including a burial site, scar trees, ring trees, birthing trees, hearths, mounds and a shell midden.

A highlight of the week was the ground-edged stone axe found in Bama. These axes are rare stone tools with a cutting edge formed by grinding - a long, slow process that was highly valued in traditional times and were traded great distances.

These findings demonstrate how Aboriginal ancestors lived on and used the landscape - the river, billabongs, sandhill, red gums and box trees - for survival and ceremony.

Representatives from the Cummeragunja Local Aboriginal Land Council, Bangerang Aboriginal Corporation, Moama Local Aboriginal Land Council and Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation worked alongside local NPWS staff and an archaeologist on the survey.

The survey has played a critical role in recognising the importance of these Aboriginal cultural significant sites in a relatively undocumented area of NPWS.

The results will improve park management and ensure the community understands and respects the Bama Forest's strong connection to local Aboriginal communities and traditional values.

The survey went was carried out from 31 March to 4 April 2025.

Quotes attributable to proud Bangerang man Roland Atkinson:

"It was a great opportunity for all four Aboriginal groups to work together on Country to protect culture. It was good to see mentoring taking place, with younger people - the next generation who learnt how to identify sites and witness the process of documenting them."

Quotes attributable to John Kerr of the Yorta Yorta Nation:

"Yorta Yorta Nation is proud to be a part of this joint project at Bama. This collaboration is something we need more of moving forward from all traditional owners. This is just a small step towards bigger and better outcomes for everyone involved."

Quotes attributable to NPWS Aboriginal Senior Field Officer Rick Ronnan:

"It was really special to hold the axe in my hand. It is something held and used by one of our ancestors. It felt like a real connection, and you could feel how useful it would have been.

"It was a really positive week, working with community to record the cultural values of Bama Forest so that we can better manage the park and protect these important sites on behalf of the Aboriginal community and the wider community."

Man in NPWS uniform stands by a tree holding a stone axe.

NPWS Aboriginal Senior Field Officer Rick Ronnan, Bama Aboriginal cultural heritage survey

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