Baarlinjan Ballarat

 

Lake Wendouree

Lake Wendouree is an artificial lake located in Ballarat Victoria Australia.  The lake is home to a variety of bird life and also the rakali (native water rat).  The lake resides on Wadawurrung (Wathaurang) and Dja Dja Wurrung land. 

 

Platypus in mural at Wendouree station

Wendouree Mural at Wendouree Train station created by RATARTAT featuring the history of the town and Lake Wendouree

 

Platypus Symbol

Baarlijan (the Wadawurrung word for platypus) is an important symbol of the Ballarat First Nations community and is featured around Ballarat.  A wooden play on platypus is featured at the Indigenous playspace at Lake Wendouree. A platypus is also featured on the welcome and goodbye sign on the western highway from Melbourne to Ballarat in the Wathaurong language. 

 

Welcome sign with platypus (source link )

Campsite Mural

A lovely mural is on the side of the Arts Academy Federation University building in Alfred Deakin Place. It was inspired by the previous mural there back in 2006 that was to commemorate the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The mural was created by Marley Smith and Billy Blackall (2020). It features features Bunjil (wedge-tailed eagle) the creator and spiritual leader for the Wadawurrung people of Ballarat. The Baarlijan (platypus) is also on the mural and this is a represents the coming together of the local First Nations communities who have come from different First nations clans and have made Ballarat their home. Ballarat was an important meeting place for First Nations people, the circular motifs in the mural represent campsites located across Ballarat. 

Final thoughts

Ballarat is a wonderful town, it has a big country town vibe and nature places like the botanical gardens and Lake Wendouree, these were my highlights.

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