Bunjil's Shelter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bunjil's Shelter Victoria
Bunjil's Shelter Location in Victoria
Elevation	212 m (696 ft)
LGA(s)	Shire of Northern Grampians
Region	Wimmera

Bunjil's Shelter, also called Bunjil's Cave, is a very important Aboriginal sacred place. It is located in the Grampians area of Australia, close to Stawell. The shelter contains a special painting of Bunjil and two dingoes or dogs.

Bunjil is a powerful creator-being in many Koori cultures. This shelter is the only known rock art site that shows Bunjil. Because of this, it is one of the most important Aboriginal cultural sites in south-eastern Australia.

The shelter is found within the Black Range Scenic Reserve. This reserve is about 10 kilometers south of Stawell. Bunjil's Shelter is a small cave at the bottom of a large granite rock. Local Europeans first learned about it in 1911. It became known to the general public in 1957. The site has been fenced off for a long time to protect it from damage.

Is the Painting Real?

People have wondered if the paintings at Bunjil's Shelter are truly Aboriginal since they were first reported. However, studies have now proven that they are real Aboriginal art.

There have been different ideas about the paintings:

• Some believed they were completely Aboriginal.
• Others thought Europeans had "touched up" or added to the paintings.
• A few even thought Europeans created the paintings entirely.

As new ways of studying art developed, the understanding of the site changed. In 1979, some tests on the paint seemed to show it was European. Because of this, the site was removed from a list of Aboriginal places.

But in 1983, scientists used special tools called scanning electron microscopes (SEM). These tools showed that the original paintings were made with real ochres, which are natural Aboriginal paints. The SEM also showed that some European paints had been used to "touch up" the artwork later.

It can be hard to prove if Aboriginal paintings are real. This is usually done by comparing them to other known Aboriginal art styles. But Bunjil's Shelter is special because it is unique and not like other sites.

Bunjil's Shelter in Pop Culture

Bunjil's Shelter has been featured in popular culture. The Victorian rock art from the shelter was shown on a series of eight postage stamps. These stamps were called 'The First Australians'.

You can also see a copy of the art from the site. A replica is on display in Stawell for everyone to enjoy.