Sutton Grange Landscapes in the Big Picture
Posted on 8 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
Often the vestiges of early European colonisation are easier to see in the landscape – bricks, rusting metal, earthmoving, fences, the (child-sized) handprints in mortar – and they attract our eye, more readily, or easily. We often don’t see the many markers of indigenous life – scar trees, ovens, middens – even though the indigenous seems more enduring; still evident more than 160 years later and in use for many hundreds of years before that.
The granite, redgum woodlands of Coliban Park in Sutton Grange was a perfect landscape to explore, interpret and discuss regional land use history at our first workshop for the year, ‘The Big Picture” on Sunday 1 March 2015. We were able to see artifacts of white settlement sitting alongside those of the first Australians, and our expert presenters Deirdre Slattery and Gerry Gill helped us to interpret them. Duncan Barber provided us with familial insight, adding to the story – and the sense of scale, and history. We were also prompted to consider the contemporary challenges of managing – and shaping – the land.
A very special location, expert presenters, and an enthusiastic group keen to know more about this part of the world and the factors that have shaped land use, and thus the landscape, over time. Many thanks to Jess and Duncan Barber for their hospitality and generosity, to Deirdre and Gerry for sharing their knowledge, and to Ann-Marie Monda who represented the Connecting Country Committee. For more information on the session, including links to resources, images and photos from the day, go to our Education Program section and click on the 1 March workshop session.
Note, we still have vacancies for the rest of the autumn workshops, especially the April 19 and May 8 sessions – download a registration form – registration – autumn – or contact janet@connectingcountry.org.au.
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