How Aboriginal people used grasslands

Grasslands provided value to Aboriginal people as a source of food and a sense of place. Grasslands were an extremely valuable place for Aboriginal people. Aboriginal people sourced all food and tools from the land. Men hunted for animals in grasslands. Women and children collected vegetables such as leaves and tubers as dietary staples. When grasshoppers were common, they were the main dietary component.

Grasses Grasses were the most common source of food for Aboriginal people. Grass seeds were processed for wet-milled flour. The leaves and roots of grasses were processed for medicines. The stems of grasses were used for binding and basket weaving.

Graminoid – lilies and grasses Plains Yam Daisy (Microseris scapigera) – Tubers were eaten Bulbine Lily (Bulbine bulbosa) – Leaves were eaten Black Anther Flax Lily (Dianella revoluta) – Leaves used as string Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra) – When the seeds were ripe they were collected and ground up with grinding stones to produce flour, which was mixed with water and cooked to make damper

Shrub – Bramble and Burr Small-leaf Bramble (Rubus parvifolius) – Red fruits are edible

Shrubs and trees Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii) – Gum used as a drink and bark used as string and medicine Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) – Gum used as a drink and bark used as string and medicine Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) – Wood used to make spears and shields, bark used as a medicine for rheumatism and bark used as string and fishing line

Shrubs and trees Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata) – Wood used to make boomerangs and shoots and cones used for food River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) – Wood used to make water containers, sap used as medicine for burns and leaves used as medicine in steam baths. Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) – Wood used to make spears and shields, and leaves used as a medicine for fever