The state government announced the funding for the first two stages of a three-stage master plan that covers the Budj Bim landscape, which includes Lake Condah, the Condah Mission, Mt Eccles, Kurtonitj wetland, the Tyrendarra Indigenous Protected Area, and Convincing Ground at Allestree.

The money follows a federal government visit last week as part of plans to have the area added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The funding will to go to Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation to install interpretive signage, walking trails, picnic shelter areas and associated amenities. 

Gunditj Mirring TOAC project manager Denis Rose said the $8 million was timely and would help people learn the story of the land and its people.

“The funding is to ensure there is the appropriate infrastructure in place for visitors (because) if we manage to get world heritage listing, in a couple of years we could expect tourism numbers to increase dramatically and we want to be prepared for it,” Mr Rose said.

Glenelg Shire mayor Max Oberlander said the investment would be spent across the next four years to enhance archaeological features such as Lake Condah’s eel traps and stone huts, and construct interpretive signs. 

“This master plan presents a vision to raise the identity of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape on a global scale,” he said.

“This is a world class tourism asset and the master plan will provide for visitors to be immersed in these local Dreamtime stories, showing the places, events and activities of the lands over the past 30,000 years.”

State Aboriginal Affairs Minister Natalie Hutchins said the funding would help all Australians learn about the region’s rich history.

“Budj Bim pre-dates the Pyramids of Egypt, is one of Australia’s most important Aboriginal sites, and it should absolutely be recognised as a UNESCO heritage listed site,” Ms Hutchins said.

“We are protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage and developing state-wide Aboriginal tourism experiences for all Victorians to respect and enjoy.”

The eel traps of Budj Bim have been identified by scholars as the world’s first engineering project, dating back at least 6600 years.