The Palawa people are the Traditional Owners of Nipaluna (Hobart) and have occupied the island of Tasmania for over 40,000 years.
The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens is located on land originally occupied by the Muwinina people. Archaeological excavations have uncovered extensive living history sites and stone artefacts dating back more than 5,000 years. Uncountable numbers of shells lie as scattered fragments, all once held with human hands.
The Muwinina were one band of four distinct bands of Aboriginal people that lived in southern Tasmania. Included in this were the Nuenonne from Bruny Island, the Mellukerdee from the Huon, and the Lyluequonny from Recherche Bay, collectively known as the South East People. The whole city of Hobart is located on the land of the Muwinina people which extended for thousands of square kilometres up the River Derwent.
The Botanical Gardens is situated in a landscape that would have been an ideal location for the Muwinina people, being a site mostly protected from weather extremes with plenty of game. It was also close to the water with bountiful fish and shellfish.
We acknowledge and pay our respects to all Tasmanian Aboriginal Communities who have survived invasion and dispossession, and continue to maintain their identity and culture.