Gariwerd [OP]: An Environmental History of the Grampians

by Benjamin Wilkie

People have been visiting and living in the Victorian Grampians, also known as Gariwerd, for thousands of generations. They have both witnessed and caused vast environmental transformations in and around the ranges. A History of the Grampians explores the geological and ecological significance of the mountains and combines research from across disciplines to tell the story of how humans and the environment have interacted, and how the ways people have thought about the environments of the ranges have changed through time.

In this new account, historian Benjamin Wilkie examines how Djab wurrung and Jardwadjali people and their ancestors lived in and around the mountains, how they managed the land and natural resources, and what kinds of archaeological evidence they have left behind over the past 20,000 years. He explores the history of European colonization in the area from the middle of the 19th century and considers the effects of this on both the first people of Gariwerd and the environments of the ranges and their surrounding plains in western Victoria. The book covers the rise of science, industry and tourism in the mountains, and traces the eventual declaration of the Grampians National Park in 1984. Finally, it examines more recent debates about the past, present and future of the park, including over its significant indigenous history and heritage.

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment

148 pages, Paperback

Published September 24, 2020

Reviews

[Amanda Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It is a brilliant example of comprehensive yet concise environmental history, and would be a great introduction to those who are unfamiliar with the concept of an environmental history. I certainly felt a few things 'click into place' when I read it in terms of my own understanding of what environmental histories can be. Plus, I would love to read this again, which is not something I usually say about scholarly books.

I recommend it to anyone who is interested in Gariwerd. This book is not just about the 'physical' environment of the Grampians, which is something I find people often misunderstand about environmental histories. Rather, this history integrates stories of people and environment in telling a more full history of this beautiful place. I felt it enabled me to more fully see Gariwerd as I visited it for the first time, and my memories of the stunning views of and from its peaks are all the richer for that perspective.