Barrambin (York’s Hollow), meaning ‘windy place,’ is an important Aboriginal Cultural Heritage site, where the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Turrbal and Yugara people, gathered in this hunting, fishing, and camping place. York’s Hollow had a rich water supply from the area’s “many waterholes and springs” (Kerkhove, 2018) and was “designated as a water reserve” (ibid.) before becoming what is now a park, golf course site, tertiary institute and exhibition grounds. 

 

Before colonial settlement, York’s Hollow was abundant in natural resources, including lagoons with an ample supply of “reeds, water lilies, fish (bream and eel), and waterfowl” (Kerkhove, 2020). Most of the land was “open woodlands (open forest)” (ibid.) with “blue gum, apple, box, and ironbark trees on grassy slopes” (ibid.). This open forest was also inhabited by “koalas, possums, kangaroos, and emus” (ibid.).

 

In the 1870s, Brisbane’s Municipal Council began filling in the wetland lagoons and over time converted the area into parkland (The Old Museum, 2018). There are numerous documented accounts from those times of raids on the Aboriginal camps by settlers and other forms of sanctioned “violence against Turrbal peoples” (ibid.). By the 1850s, “European settlement had begun to encroach on York’s Hollow,” and by the 1860s, “most of the Aboriginal groups had gone from York’s Hollow… and were forced further out to Breakfast Creek and Enoggera” (The Old Museum, 2018). Today, Barrambin, also known as Victoria Park, is open to the public as a “natural retreat and urban park for adventure, discovery, and reconnection” (Brisbane City Council, 2023). However, it is important to remember how those prior colonial forces controlled the land, leading to the “eviction of first Nations people from those lands” (Barrambin Project, 2022). 
 

Recently, there has been discussion about building an Olympic Stadium in Barrambin. During a recent Senate inquiry in Brisbane, a “new Victoria Park stadium” was suggested (Atfield, 2024) based upon a plan that included a “permanent aquatic centre” (Atfield, 2024). Additionally, it was argued that the “main Olympic venues could come in almost $700 million cheaper if they were all in Victoria Park” (Atfield, 2024).

 

Building a stadium on Barrambin (York’s Hollow)/Victoria Park would arguably represent a profound disrespect towards the land and its First Nations people, who have already endured significant suffering. As First Nations allies,  it is our duty to respect, protect and preserve the parkland, which serves as a vital ecosystem supporting wildlife and diverse flora. The value of these lands extend far beyond monetary worth, as they are deeply rooted in rich Indigenous history and wisdom. It Always Was, Always Will Be Aboriginal Land.

 

There are many avenues to help protect the preservation of the land, one of which is to engage by joining the Facebook group "Save Victoria Park" and stay informed through their updates. Additionally, educating others on the significance of preserving the land and advocating for regeneration efforts to restore damaged ecosystems can also be impactful steps towards protection.

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Maria Petropolous, 2024.