Aboriginal heritage
Although Campaspe Shire Council is a relatively new municipality, its history goes back thousands of years to the days of the traditional owners, while European settlement in the shire started the first half of the 19th century.
The Campaspe region has a strong and rich Aboriginal culture, going back at least 26,000 years and evident in the range of significant Aboriginal sites including Murray River, Kow Swamp, Lake Cooper and Kanyapella depression.
Traditional Owners have unique rights to their country. Aboriginal People are the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal cultural heritage.
Campaspe Shire incorporates three Traditional Owner Groups: Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung; and Yorta Yorta. Effective relationships with these groups will support actions towards ongoing reconciliation.
Reconciliation Victoria has developed a number of resources to provide information about each of the 79 Victorian local government areas through the Maggolee website.
In acknowledgement of the traditional owners Campaspe Shire Council has adopted the following statement:
The Shire of Campaspe is the traditional lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Yorta Yorta peoples.
We respect and acknowledge their unique Aboriginal cultural heritage and pay our respect to their ancestors, descendants and emerging leaders as the Traditional Owners of this country.
We acknowledge their living culture and their unique role in the life of this region.