Tulmur: Cultural Resources

Australian native plants were used by Australia's First Nations People for healing and medicine, weapons and tools, fibre and implements, shelter and food. These plants are commonly referred to as "bush tucker' plants and have been traditionally used by Australia's First Nations People for an estimated 60,000 years.

The knowledge Aboriginal people have about which plants are edible, and which plants are poisonous but can be prepared in certain ways that make them safe to eat would have been acquired over generations of trial and error. (Hiddins, L. 1999, Explore Wild Australia with Bush Tucker Man).

Healing and Medicine
Traditionally, Australia's First Nations People used both a variety of plants and plant materials to treat the ill or injured. The bush tucker trail had Hardings Paddock has a sample of these plants from which their bark, roots, sap or oils from their leaves may have been used for medicinal purposes.

Weapons, Tools, Shelter and Implements
Traditionally, Australia's First Nations People utilised the bark, branches and trunks from trees to make tools, weapons, implements and shelter. Moreover, fibre from leaves and stalks were utilised from plants to make baskets, string or rope. Stones provided many uses from pounding and grinding to cutting and spearing.

Food
Traditional foods (bush tucker) consumed by Australia's First Nations People can be categorised into the following groups.

• Animals - kangaroos, rock wallabies, possums, snakes, lizards and echidnas.
• Plants - leaves, stems, flowers, seeds, roots and berries.
• Trees - witchetty grubs and insect gals.
• Honey from native bee hives and nectar from the flowers.