NATUREWATCH
meyerereidelson@yahoo.com |
| 'Discovering hidden worlds though direct experience and participation.'
Tel : 9690 95844 Mobile: 0408894 724 (Email messages can be sent to Naturewatch at bottom of page. Press Control/End on your keyboard to go directly to Email). Meyer Eidelson is the principal of Naturewatch, President of the St Kilda Historical Society and a founding member of Earthcare. Naturewatch runs over twenty WALKS discovering the Aboriginal, natural and historical aspects of Melbourne (see Urban Discovery Walks below). School visits and walks are regularly undertaken exploring the environment, Aboriginal and local history of the school area. For example Meyer may visit a school and take the students on a 'hunting and gathering' walk of their school grounds. Each student is given their own indigenous tool. Students sample a wide variety of indigenous bushtucker used for food, tools and medicine, apply ochre, learn the art of stone tool chipping and learn about the clans which were the traditonal owners of the local area. Meyer is also the author of seven BOOKS on Melbourne's Aboriginal, natural and local history. They include: - The Melbourne Dreaming. A Guide to the Aboriginal Places of Melbourne. - Secrets of the Seaside Suburbs. A Guide to the wildlife of Port Phillip. - Stony Creek. The Journey of a waterway and its people. - Alfreda the City Penguin (childrens book in English and Japanese. - Nation Builders. Great stories and Lives from St Kilda Cemetery (on-line at www.foskc.org.au). - Walks in Port Phillip. A Guide to the Cultural Landscapes of a City.(on- line at www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/walking) - Book, Tanks and Radios. Stories from a family of survivors. Naturewatch also undertakes ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANCY for example. In 2001 Meyer designed seven Federation walks in Port Phillip including five federation benches on the foreshore. In 2003 he designed Melbourne's largest bushtucker trail in Gasworks Arts Park, Albert Park. In 2003 he was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal for his contribution to the Federation year and to community heritage. URBAN DISCOVERY WALKS PRE-HISTORY Hunting and Gathering at Black Rock Spend a morning with a naturalist exploring the magnificent environment of Half Moon Bay and Red Bluff. Discover historic wells, ochre sites, shell middens, and lookout places. Experience the food, medicinal and tool uses of native plants and animals and creation stories of Port Phillip Bay. Learn about stone tool manufacture, weather patterns and ancient deltas. Children welcome. St Kilda Bushtucker Man Take a guided walk of the St. Kilda harbour area and explore the little known habitats of wildlife such as beaver rats, possums, fish, penguins, birds and insects. Learn about the use of indigenous plants and wildlife for food medicine, tools and fire. Handle indigenous tools and see flint tool making demonstrated. Visit the three hundred year old Corroboree tree. Ancient civilisations of the Maribyrnong The Maribyrnong Valley is one of Australia’s great pre-history locations with one of the longest records of continuous Aboriginal occupation on this continent. A bus and walking tour explores the valley including archaeological sites such as fish traps, quarries, lookouts, scarred trees and excavations. In the footsteps of the Wild White Man Walk from Ricketts Point exploring the natural, local and indigenous history along the escape route of convict William Buckley, who escaped from Sorrento in 1803 and lived with Aboriginal people for thirty two years before settlement. In the Otways with the Wild White Man (overnight) William Buckley was an escaped convict, who lived an amazing life with the Wathawurrung tribe from 1803 until Batman’s arrival in 1835. Pursue his footsteps in the Otways regions using the journal published in 1872 and re-discover what it means to be Australian. Melbourne’s Kakadu Explore the Yarra valley and its hidden billabongs at Heidelberg/Bulleen. Discover the extraordinary wildlife, indigenous and impressionist heritage of the great spiritual and ceremonial sites of the Kulin (Aboriginal) Nation. Melbourne Dreaming Discover Melbourne’s unique indigenous places by visiting the landscapes where the traditional owners carried out hunting and gathering, corroborees, tool making and ceremonies. Learn about archaeological sites and processes of the coastline, valleys and swamps that preceded one of the world’s great cities. HISTORY - City Centre: Discover Bearbrass Return to early Melbourne 1840 (known as Bearbrass) on a walking tour of the places where publicans, Aboriginal clans, convicts, shepherds, magistrates and bullocks jostled together in a muddy booming village. Have morning tea in Melbourne’s last Bearbrass dwelling with the family who has occupied it for 102 years. Outcasts of Melbourne Explore the maze of lanes around Little Bourke and Little Lonsdale Streets, the site of Australian’s largest urban archaeological digs and discover the extraordinary nineteenth century history of missions, Chinese, traders, brothels, chorus girls, and the poor. The Lanes of Melbourne Explore the extraordinary labyrinth of lanes in the City of Melbourne and discover the social, commercial and architectural history of its maritime, fashion, industrial and slum precincts. Tour can be undertaken at night with a stop off at a bar. Death in Early Melbourne Journey by candlelight to Melbourne’s first church and burial grounds at Flagstaff Gardens and Queen Victoria Market where thousands of graves remain under modern structures. Discover the triumphs and tragedies of early publicans, women, shepherds, convicts, Koories and bushrangers. Decamp to Russell’s café - Melbourne city’s oldest residence. Burke and Wills The fascinating Burke and Wills saga has been memorialized by Australian films, books, paintings and sculpture more than any other event. Was it heroism, tragedy, farce or conspiracy? Visit key Burkes and Will sites such as the Carlton Cemetery, Royal Park departure point, expedition headquarters and monuments to explore the truth and the myths. HISTORY - Suburbs: In the Footsteps of the Dunny Man Explore the maze of 19th century lanes in historic Albert Park as a night soil worker and discover extraordinary workers’ cottages, bluestone, chimneys, characters and the great Australian outhouse. A time travel journey to the rear end of Victorian architecture and working life. Immigrants and Settlers Discover the amazing transformation of Port Melbourne and Station Pier, the greatest immigration and transport hub in Australia. Explore the places of early settlement and learn the history of indigenous people, settlers, soldiers, dock workers and immigrants. Sinners and Saints Explore St Kilda Hill and discover the history of St Kilda’s booms and busts since settlement from its wealthy seaside mansions to boarding houses, flats, brothels, punk venues and the great carnival era. (see also walks on 'Places of Worship in St Kilda' and 'Historic Cinemas of St Kilda'). To the Mouth of the Yarra Take a walk at night to the mouth of the Yarra River and experience the reconstructed dock area and the extraordinary lightscape of the Melbourne coastline. Learn about the explorers and colonists who arrived via this historic gateway. Explore the indigenous landscapes and dunes of Sandridge Beach and discover the use of indigenous plants and animals. Elwood: Swamp, Sea and Civilisation Explore the Elwood canal (formerly Elster Creek) at Point Ormond near its junction with the sea and discover the wildlife, flora and historic and indigenous places of this ancient swamp and coastline. The amazing changes in human use of this landscape have included Aboriginal encampments, coalmine, abattoir, quarantine station, graveyard, night soil depot, rifle range, movie set, centennial fires and a UFO landing site. Bridges of the Yarra Explore the Yarra valley from Hawthorn to the City and discover the fascinating variety and beauty of over twenty bridges as well as the natural history of Melbourne’s major waterway. NATURAL HISTORY A Penguin Sanctuary in St. Kilda Accompany the Earthcare research team onto St. Kilda harbour and discover the unique and a fascinating habitat of an urban penguin breeding colony and the research process used to reveal their extraordinary lifestyle. Walk the Western Wetlands to the Sea Circumnavigate Cherry Lake, Altona and travel down Koroit creek to the Bay. Discover the extraordinary waterbird population as well as the striking natural history of the Altona Saltmarsh. Merri Creek Meander Travel down the Merri creek valley from Northcote to its confluence at the Yarra and discover the amazing, natural, indigenous and cultural heritage of this urban waterway From Creek to River to Sea Stony creek travels through an extraordinary range of landscapes on its serpentine journey from Yarraville to the Yarra. Join its journey and discover the amazing uses of landscapes by humans, wildlife and plants including quarries, wastelands, drains, bridges, wetlands, dumps and parks. Walk the Mullum Mullum The Mullum Mullum is one of the most extraordinary natural environments in Melbourne. Explore wildlife, wildflowers and history including Schwerkolts cottage and Deep creek reserve. NATUREWATCH NEWSLETTER NO I JANUARY 2004! NATUREWATCH NEWSLETTER NO I JANUARY 2004!! NATUREWATCH NEWSLETTER NO I JANUARY 2004!!! It is with great pleasure that I forward you the Naturewatch newsletter. Produced twice a year, it will provide information on Naturewatch current activities and programs. When I started Naturewatch in 1992, I had the dream of creating unique heritage and eco-tours that explored the hidden, forgotten or secret parts of our city. The concept was to provide participants with real and direct experiences of their indigenous, environmental and historic heritage. Since then, several thousand individuals have participated in these specially designed journeys including large numbers of primary and secondary students. A popular recent demand has been for walks that explore the Aboriginal heritage in the vicinity of local schools. Since 1995 Naturewatch has also produced six books on Melbourne’s indigenous, historical and natural heritage. Numerous heritage projects and consultancies have also been undertaken for groups as diverse as local government, community groups and the Commonwealth Federation program. HUNTING AND GATHERING ON THE MERRI CREEK To promote reconciliation, Spensley Street Primary School requested Naturewatch to undertake walks for every student in their school exploring the indigenous history of their school. In 2002 and 2003 Naturewatch took a total of 300 students from Prep to Grade on six excursions down the nearby Merri Creek to the junction of the Yarra at Dights Falls. The students applied ochre and were each given their own individual tool for use on the walk. The walk explored tribal boundaries, the food, tool and medicinal uses of local plants, hunting methods, Dreamtime stories and local pre-history. The Dights Falls area was one of the great trading and ceremonial areas of indigenous Australia. It historic sites include a graveyard, mission school, native police camp and protector’s hut. The excavated Dights Mill is the first industrial site in Victoria symbolizing the transition from stone technology to an industrial society. Such Hunting and Gathering walks conducted on site at have been increasingly popular in a wide variety of schools seeking to involve students in the specific culture of their local area. In 1997 Naturewatch produced ‘The Melbourne Dreaming. A Guide to the Cultural Places of Melbourne.’ NATUREWATCH CITY CENTRE WALKS Historic walks in the city last year a popular theme with programs such as the CAE, GATEways, Probus and the Melbourne Museum. Schools with city campuses such as Eltham College have also held walks. These walks take students on a hands-on journey through time through the four historic precincts of the city. They include: · Bearbrass: Melbourne’s original settlement · Fashion, factories and finance · Old Melbourne Cemetery (Queen Vic Market) · Chinatown: slums, sinners and saints · Little Lon · Aboriginal Melbourne NEW BUSH TUCKER TRAIL In August Naturewatch completed Melbourne’s largest bush tucker trail through the Gasworks Park in Albert Park for the City of Port Phillip. 120 students from local schools attended the launch and walked the trail. Twenty-two posts with information and Aboriginal art designs guide students and visitors through the extensive bushland describing the food, medicinal and tool uses of native plants. A range of self-guided activity sheets provide students using the trail with an additional means of learning about our pre-history and the wide use of plants. For map and information: www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/walking.html ST KILDA CEMETERY PROJECT In June Naturewatch participated in an exciting project to enhance young people understanding of St Kilda Cemetery (SKC). Over ten classes and schools visited the Cemetery to experience drama, art and history activities. NW also produced a SKC Curriculum Activities Kit for teachers involved in the project. For further information contact Friends of St Kilda Cemetery, Freda 9534 9192. SENIORS FESTIVAL 2004 Naturewatch is again providing walks for the Seniors Festival program 14 - 21th March. Walks are priced at $10 - 15.00 per person including morning tea. Seniors Program is available from Coles Supermarkets from mid- January. Listed walks are: · Discover Bearbrass (Melbourne 1840) · Footsteps of the Dunnyman (Albert Park) · Saints and Sinners (St Kilda Hill) · Archaeology of St Kilda · Death in Eearly Melbourne (Vic market) · Outcasts of Melbourne (little Lon) · Migrants Settlers and Soldiers (Port Melbourne) ST KILDA CHILDRENS HISTORY BOOK Naturewatch is coordinating a project to develop a children’s history book on St Kilda with funding from the City of Port Phillip to the St Kilda Historical Society. This will also include teachers’ St Kilda History Resource Kit. The book explores the life of Granny a mysterious figure who sold fruit and sweets on the St Kilda foreshore in the 1860’s. Older members of the community will be visiting the schools to read students the book and take them on walks. HERITAGE WALKS PROGRAM IN PORT PHILLIP 2004 The City of Port Phillip has asked Naturewatch to assist in organizing monthly heritage walks in 2004 St Kilda, South Melbourne, Port Melbourne and Elwood. The walks are free to tresidents and will also enhance people’s awareness of transport routes, For further information ring Meg Selman 92096726 BOOKS Two books written by Naturewatch are now on-line. They are: · Nation Builders. Great Lives and Stories from St Kilda Cemetery. · Walks in Port Phillip. A Guide to the Cultural Landscapes of a City (winner of the Victorian Community History - Walks Section – Award) Books are available in hard copy from Naturewatch OR www.fskc.org.au OR www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/walking NATUREWATCH WALKS Each walk is specifically designed for the needs of the group whether it be seniors, students, or community organisations. Prehistory Hunting and Gathering at Black Rock Melbourne’s Kakadu (Heidelberg) Prehistory Mystery Tour of Melbourne In the footsteps of William Buckley Explore the Maribyrnong St. Kilda Bushtucker Tour History Explore Bearbrass 1840 (city centre) The Lanes of Melbourne (city centre) Footsteps of the Dunny Man (Albert Park) To the Mouth of the Yarra (Webb Dock) Death in Early Melbourne (West Melbourne) Immigrants and Settlers Trail (Port Melbourne) Nation builders of St. Kilda Cemetery Natural History Merri Creek Meander Walk the Western Wetlands to the Sea (Altona) From Creek to River to Sea (Yarraville) Penguin Sanctuary in St. Kilda Elster Creek to Elwood Canal FOR NEXT NATUREWATCH NEWSLETTER http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/meyere/web/newsletters.html |
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