Bunjil's Shelter: A Window into Aboriginal Dreamtime

Bunjil's Shelter is an ancient Aboriginal sacred site located in the Grampians region (Gariwerd) of Australia, within the Black Range Scenic Reserve near Stawell. This small shelter at the base of a large granite boulder holds immense cultural significance as the only known rock art depiction of Bunjil, the creator deity in many Kulin and other Aboriginal cultures of Victoria. Bunjil, often represented as a wedge-tailed eagle, is a principal legendary hero, the creator who provides for all and remains a protector of the natural world, his people, and their beliefs. The painting within the shelter portrays Bunjil in human form, accompanied by two dingoes, believed to be his helpers. The exact age of the painting is unknown, but it is estimated to be thousands of years old. The site has been known to European locals since 1911 and to the general public since 1957. Due to repeated vandalism, the painting has long been protected by a steel-mesh fence. The paintings at the shelter have been proven to be of authentic Aboriginal origin. Bunjil's Shelter sits within the Gariwerd, a cultural landscape that supports people both physically and spiritually. As you walk towards the painting of Bunjil you can look out across the plains and mountain ranges of Gariwerd's Indigenous people which includes descendants of the Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali people.