Aboriginal Culture

Millowl is the Bunurong name for Phillip Island. It is part of the
Country recognised as being the Traditional Land and Waters of the Bunurong People and is steeped in cultural history dating back tens of thousands of years. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live, work, and learn, the Bunurong People. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

The Bunurong Aboriginal Land Council Corporation is the Recognised Aboriginal Party for area. Phillip Island was part of the homelands of the Yalluk Bulluk clan of the Bunurong people for many thousands of years before European exploration of the area began. The Bunurong were members of the Kulin nation of Aboriginal people. The Bunurong people called the island "Millowl"

The Yalluk Bulluk came to Millowl in the summer months to feast on shellfish, fish, small marsupials and mutton birds (short tailed shearwaters). Ochre was available at several locations on Millowl and Churchill Island, and would have been used as body decoration during ceremonies. The first European explorers saw evidence of the existence of the First Nations people in the area, but did not often record coming into contact with them. However, sealers, who were in the area simultaneously to early exploration, did abduct women and girls from Western Port to the Bass Strait islands, and caused havoc amongst the Bunurong people.

A midden at Point Grant dated at approximately 2,000 years contained various shells including limpets (85%) and abalone (5%). The bones of penguin, wallaby, possum and small amounts of seal and fish were also present. Stone tools, mainly flint flakes, were found as well as charcoal and ochre.

*This information is cited from the Phillip Island and District Historical Society website.