Dooliebeal is the original Wadawurrung name that references the River Red-gums found in the reserve and the Armstrong Creek valley more broadly. Walking through Armstrong Creek you will still see the beauty of these trees that are habitat to many bird species. The area provided food medicine fresh water resources and shelter for Wadawurrung people until 1861.

Once named after European settler John Stewart this area was renamed in 2018 in consultation with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners as well as John Stewart’s descendants.

As Benjamin Mitchell the 2017 National NAIDOC Committee Co-Chair said:

The preservation and revitalisation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages – the original languages of this nation – is the preservation of priceless treasure not just for Indigenous peoples but for everyone.

This is site 16 of the NAIDOC Week 2020 online trail.

Source: Rowe D. About Corayo