The site on which Kinley resides represents the largest major parcel of land in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, with a 140 year rich industrial history following a much longer Aboriginal presence over thousands of years – a joint heritage we plan to respect, preserve and celebrate.

Paying respect to the country’s Elders past, present and emerging, the project has prepared and had approved two Cultural Heritage Management Plans under the Aboriginal Heritage Act (2006). In consultation with the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and Biosis, all works on site enabling development of the project’s Western Precinct to proceed, are now complete.

During the CHMP investigations carried out between 2018 and 2020, two Aboriginal artefact distributions were recorded in the activity area with over 350 flaked stone artefacts and an Aboriginal clay ball hearth recovered.  A substantial part of the larger artefact distribution (including the location of the hearth) is being preserved as a reserve in public open space. All other parts of the two Aboriginal places have been carefully excavated by archaeologists and the Traditional Owners, and the cultural heritage recovered will be retained in the protected space.

An unusual small, bowl-shaped cut feature about 400mm across, lined with a hard clay residue and filled with a mixed lime/ soil carbonate deposit, containing lithic artefacts (pictured) was one of the archaeological features discovered in the assessment. Now the salvage excavations are complete, Biosis will ensure the transfer of the artefacts and their documentation to the Traditional Owners in accordance with the Cultural Heritage Management Plan.

We remain excited to continue working with the Wurundjeri people in the interpretation of the site values as part of ongoing development and the delivery of special places for the future Kinley community.