Deen Maar Indigenous Protected Area

Deen Maar is a coastal property located in south-west Victoria, Australia bounded by the Eumeralla River and Bass Strait. It has an area of 4.53 square kilometres. The country consists of limestone ridges, wetlands, lakes and sand dunes. It is part of the Yambuk Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for the conservation of threatened species such as the orange-bellied parrot and hooded plover.^[1] It is the traditional home of the Peek Whurrong speakers of the Dhauwurdwurung (Gunditjmara) Nation. The property takes its name from Deen Maar ("this man here") Island (Lady Julia Percy Island), which lies a short distance off the coast.

History

In 1842 Deen Maar was the site of conflict between the indigenous people of the area and European colonists. This conflict is referred to as the Eumerella Wars and took place over 20 years in the mid-19th century. The remains of people involved in the conflict are at Deen Maar.

The property was purchased in 1993 by ATSIC for the Framlingham Aboriginal Trust with the intention that it become an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA), it was granted this status in 1999. It was the first IPA in Victoria.

See also

• Gunditjmara
• List of massacres of indigenous Australians

External links

• Deen Maar - Indigenous protected area
• Strategy for Aboriginal Managed Lands in Victoria
• Growfish - Gippsland Aquaculture Industry Network

References

Coordinates: 38°19′37″S 142°2′11″E / 38.32694°S 142.03639°E / -38.32694; 142.03639