Professor to report on six peaks research

A LONGTIME academic will soon present part of his findings on the history and conservation of six surrounding mountains in the southern Dja Dja Wurrung region.

Since the start of the year, Federation University honorary professor Barry Golding has been studying the region thanks to a State Library of Victoria-sanctioned 12-month research fellowship.

In early October, he’ll showcase his research at the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute through the Bunanyung Landscape Alliance in a free presentation which he said will offer an insight into the dividing range north of Ballarat.

“It’s talking about unsettling changes that have taken place in the southern Dja Dja Wurrung region,” he said. “The settlers didn’t just settle, they were unsettling an already cultured people.

“It’ll cover how the violent displacement of Aboriginal people from their lands shaped the land. The six peaks are mounts Kooroocheang, Beckworth, Greenock near Talbot, Tarrengower near Maldon, Alexander, and Franklin north of Daylesford.

“It’s a study looking at everything from the last 183 years since Major Mitchell rocked through this area. Everything from goldmining to sandmining, planting pine trees on Mount Franklin.”

Part of the BMI presentation’s subject matter will be preceded with two field trips to the mount Kooroocheang and Franklin regions on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 respectively, both through The Great Dividing Trail Network.

The results of Mr Golding’s research fellowship will be reported in a book titled Six Peaks Speak: Unsettling in Southern Dja Dja Wurrung Country.

Professor Golding said much of the findings he’s unearthed about the region’s mountains mirror lessons around Ballarat’s own peaks.

“While Ballarat had a similar history, what happened on the other side of the divide is different,” he said.

“I hope people come away with a different perspective about how the landscape has been shaped and had been shaped prior to unsettlement.

“My argument is we need to better look after the places remaining in public ownership, in the cases of Ballarat, Mount Buninyong and Mount Warrenheip.

“One of the themes is on things not being as they see. Everywhere we go, something interesting has happened out of sight and deliberately out of mind.”

Professor Golding’s presentation will take place in the BMI’s Humffray Room on Tuesday 10 October from 7.30pm.

Tickets can be booked at bit.ly/45Uap6c.