Melbourne’s history stretches back at least 40,000 years, with Aboriginal Australians, particularly the Kulin nation, inhabiting the region long before European settlement. At the time of British colonization in the 19th century, up to 20,000 Kulin people lived in the area, including members of the Wurundjeri, Boonwurrung, and Wathaurong language groups. The region served as an important meeting place for Kulin clans and provided vital food and water resources.

In June 2021, the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council formally agreed on boundaries between the lands of two traditional owner groups, the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung. The boundary stretches across the city, placing the CBD, Richmond, and Hawthorn on Wurundjeri land, while Albert Park, St Kilda, and Caulfield lie on Boonwurrung land. However, these boundaries remain disputed by some community members, including N’arweet Carolyn Briggs.

The city is widely referred to as “Narrm” by Aboriginal communities, a name derived from the Boonwurrung word for Port Phillip Bay, Narm-narm. In Eastern Kulin languages, Narrm means “scrub,” reflecting the Creation Story in which the Birrarung (Yarra River) filled the bay. Before this event, the area that is now Melbourne was dry land, with scrubland supporting wildlife such as emu (boorrimul) and kangaroo (marram). This deep connection to land and story underscores Melbourne’s enduring Indigenous heritage.