Mid Murray - Heritage

The river systems of the Mid Murray Forest Management Area had and continue to play an important role in both the lives of the Aboriginal inhabitants of the area, and after settlement, in the lives of European settlers. The Yorta Yorta Aboriginals have a long and continuing association with the Barmah area, and Barapa Barapa people with the Gunbower and Koondrook area to the west - hundreds of archeological sites occur throughout the forest. The floodplains and forests provided Aboriginal people with a rich resource of food and materials, as well as a means of transport and locations for trade with neighbouring groups.

To the Europeans the forests of the Mid-Murray FMA were valuable grazing land and provided timber for numerous uses including railway sleepers, fencing, fuel for river transport and firewood. The forest itself is a relic of this early management, as its current structure is a result of these activities.