If we were to ask you what Hurstbridge is best known for, some might say the Bushranger saga of 1866 and the death of Henry Hurst. Others might say our past orchards and fruit farming, considering in 1915 Hurstbridge had 187 registered growers and a cool store was built on Graysharps road soon after. However, most people may say Hurstbridge is famous for its Wattle Festival, centred around this beautiful bloom each August, marking the beginning of spring.
The silver wattle, or ‘Muyan’ was a very important multi-purpose plant to the local Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung clan. Its seeds were ground into nutritious flour, seed pods eaten or used to produce a cleanser or soap. Infusions of the foliage, bark and gum were used for medicinal purposes, alleviating many complaints from stomach upsets to skin conditions. Wattle gum was also chewed as a gum and used as an adhesive in securing axe heads and other tools. Its hard wood was fashioned into weapons such as ‘wonguims’ or boomerangs and spear throwers, digging sticks and ‘gurrborra’, musical clap sticks.
So, the Muyan, silver wattle, is of great importance to the Wurundjeri just as it holds a special significance to people of Hurstbridge and Nillumbik today. Its welcoming sight towards the end of winter promises a better ‘yirramboi’ or tomorrow, for all of us.
References: Kooka on the wattle – A history of hurstbridge, deadlystory.com
Photo: Australian National Botanic Gardens and Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research
