How about we journey back in time to discover the story of Council Rock? This place echoes with the memories of a Melbourne long before European settlement. The Council Rock stands as a silent witness to the gatherings of the local Koori clans.
Before Melbourne became the city we know, three adjoining Koori clans likely used this area. They met here to discuss important matters. They also gathered food along the creek’s embankments and wetlands.
These first inhabitants were careful stewards of the land. They managed the creek environment. They ensured its resources would be adequate for their needs and for generations to come. Evidence of their presence remains scattered throughout the region.
Midden sites once marked the creek’s mouth. Here, the Koories feasted on shellfish. Stone tool sites, silcrete quarries, scarred trees, and burial places also dotted the landscape. The Stony Creek area belonged to the Marin bulluk clan. They occupied the land between Kororoit Creek and the Maribyrnong River. This clan was part of the Woi wurrung. They were the tribal group that owned most of Melbourne.
Bungarin was the head man of the Marin bulluk clan. He was also a guardian of the axe quarry at Mt William. Bungarin’s name even appears on John Batman’s so-called deed of purchase.
Later, Europeans arrived, forever changing the landscape. Charles Grimes was among the first. He surveyed Port Phillip Bay. A party from his schooner, the Cumberland, explored Stony Creek. They noted it was salty and ended in a swamp.
John Batman anchored opposite Stony Creek backwash in 1835. He was searching for pasture. This ultimately led to the founding of Melbourne.
As Melbourne grew, Stony Creek became an industrial hub. Basalt quarrying began around 1854. The rock was used for ballast and construction. Melbourne Woollen Mills opened in 1869. It was the first in Melbourne and one of Australia’s earliest.
The Victorian Meat Preserving Works soon followed. It shipped its products globally via barges on Stony Creek. Glue works and canning factories also sprang up along the creek. T. Robinson & Co. Agricultural Implement Makers established their works on the south side of Stony Creek in 1891. They continued their occupation of the site until the 1970s.
But this industrial growth came at a cost. Tanneries discharged waste directly into the creek. It polluted the water. The Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works constructed a sewer main beneath Stony Creek. This connected the northern suburbs to the Spotswood Pumping Station.
Flooding was also a problem. In 1946, Stony Creek was diverted. This was done to prevent flooding at the H.V. McKay Sunshine Harvestor Works.
Today, groups like Friends of Stony Creek are working to restore the creek. They revegetate its banks and create new ponds. They aim to create a more usable open space. They also aim to connect as much of the creek as possible with pedestrian and bicycle paths.
Council Rock reminds us of the long history of this land. It reminds us of the Koori clans who first gathered here. Their connection to this place remains. It is a story etched in the very stones beneath our feet. Council Rock stands as a testament to their enduring legacy.