NOTICE OF AUTHORISATION MEETING FOR NATIVE TITLE DETERMINATION APPLICATION - WURUNDJERI WOI-WURRUNG PEOPLE
When: Saturday 6 September 2025, 10am – 4pm
Where: Aborigines Advancement League, 2 Watt St, Thornbury.
A decision-making meeting on Saturday 6 September 2025 will be held in Melbourne for the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People for the purpose of authorising a native title determination application over the proposed area marked in blue on the map below.
INFORMATION SESSIONS
Online information sessions will be held in the two weeks prior to the Authorisation meeting, commencing the week of 25 August 2025, for group members to receive and discuss information and legal advice about the decisions to be made on Saturday 6 September 2025. Notice of these sessions will be given separately. Please contact Slater and Gordon (below) for further information.
Map of proposed application area
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
The Authorisation Meeting is open to those living Aboriginal people who satisfy each of the following criteria:
(a) are descended from one or more of the following ancestors:
ii. Burronkigilgurek
iii. Bungarim
iv. Malcolm Dorobauk / Myngderrar
v. Ninggollobin / Ningulabul / Captain Turnbull
vi. Winberri
vii. Murrumbean
viii. Barla
x. Jack Weatherly
xi. Nerrim Kurruk;
xii. Simon Wonga
xiii. William Barak
xiv. Annie Borate;
xv. Any other person living at or before 1836 who is attested as a member of a Woi-wurrung speaking clan or family; and
(b) identify themselves as Wurundjeri, Woi-wurrung, Yarra Yarra or Yarra Tribe under the traditional laws and customs applicable to the application area on the attached map.
PURPOSE OF AUTHORISATION MEETING
The purpose of the authorisation meeting is to consider, and if appropriate, make decisions about the following:
1. Discuss and confirm the process of decision-making for the purpose of authorising a person or persons to make a native title application and deal with matters arising in relation to it.
2. Consider and authorise a native title determination application on behalf of the proposed native title claim group, over the lands and waters, marked on the attached map.
3. Authorise one or more members of the proposed native title claim group to make the native title determination application, and to deal with matters arising in relation to it:
a. The proposed native title claim group will consider resolutions and make decisions to authorise an Applicant(s) to make the native title determination application and deal with matters arising in relation to it.
b. The proposed native title claim group will be asked to consider resolutions and make decisions about placing conditions on the powers of the Applicant(s).
c. The proposed native title claim group will be asked to consider and make decisions about the processes the Applicant(s) must undertake to make decisions. For example, whether or not the Applicant(s) can make decisions by majority.
4. Authorise the native title rights and interests to be claimed under the proposed application.
ATTENDANCE AND TRAVEL ASSISTANCE
· Attending in person (strongly encouraged): To register to attend in person, please contact Lachlan Barter by Wednesday, 3 September 2025. Travel assistance is available. For further information about travel assistance, please contact Slater and Gordon.
· Attending remotely: If you are unable to attend in person, and would like to attend virtually via Microsoft Teams, please email Lachlan Barter (contact details below). After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We request that you register to attend remotely by Wednesday, 3 September 2025.
Slater and Gordon contact details:
Lachlan Barter, Community Contact Officer
Phone: 0468 618 789
Email: [email protected]
If you have any questions, or simply require further information please do contact Lachlan Barter (details above), or Peter Boyle, Principal Lawyer, [email protected]
