Supporting the Point Nepean Field Station Project
Point Nepean, on the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula, has been a place of profound significance for the Bunurong Peoples, the Traditional Owners of this country. For thousands of years, this land has been a site of ceremony, training, and initiation, particularly for Bunurong women, whose cultural practices shaped the landscape and sustained connections to country.
The Point Nepean Field Station Project will be home to the National Centre for Coasts, Environment and Climate, and jointly operated by The University of Melbourne and Monash University. It will be an “interdisciplinary science research and education facility encompassing coastal environments, climate change, history and culture, the arts and community engagement“.
Our Victorian maintenance team recently had the unique privilege of working on this sacred land, supporting the development of the Field Station in collaboration with Green Heritage Archaeology, the Bunurong Land Council, and Parks Victoria.
THE PROJECT ITSELF
Acknowledging the spiritual and historical importance of the Point Nepean Field Station Project site, we committed a team of five women, in recognition of cultural considerations, to carefully develop 14 research pits (1.2 x 1.2 x 1.2 m). Under the guidance of Traditional Owners and the lead archaeologist, the team sieved, identified, and collected culturally sensitive and significant Indigenous artefacts, ensuring the preservation and integrity of the site.
The work revealed artefacts untouched for 5,000–6,000 years, including flaked stone tools, worked bones, worked glass, and silcrete. These discoveries (particularly that of large pieces of silcrete) provide remarkable evidence of women’s quarrying practices – the first known site of its kind in Victoria – offering invaluable insights into the daily lives, skills, and ingenuity of the Bunurong Peoples.
MINDFULNESS, RESPECT, AND CARE
For the Solutions+ team, the Point Nepean Field Station Project was not only a technical and scientific undertaking but also a profound learning experience. Participants gained specialised archaeological training, strengthened cultural knowledge, and developed a deeper understanding of the Bunurong Peoples’ enduring connection to country. Every artefact handled and every decision made was approached with mindfulness, respect, and care for the sacredness of the land.
HONOURING THE BUNURONG PEOPLES’ CUSTODIANSHIP OF POINT NEPEAN
Beyond the immediate project outcomes, this collaboration fosters ongoing engagement and partnership with the Bunurong Land Council, ensuring that future projects respect cultural protocols and support the preservation of Indigenous heritage. Our team has been invited to contribute to further culturally significant projects later this year, continuing the relationship built on trust, expertise, and mutual respect.
The Point Nepean Field Station Project demonstrates the power of combining professional expertise with cultural sensitivity. It highlights the importance of acknowledging Traditional Owners, respecting sacred sites, and understanding the deep historical and cultural narratives embedded in the land.
Through this work, Solutions+ honours the Bunurong Peoples’ custodianship of Point Nepean, contributing to a legacy of cultural preservation, ecological stewardship, and community collaboration.
If you’d like to read more about the Point Nepean Field Station Project, you can find out more at this link.
