The land that Melbourne was built on has been reclaimed by its original inhabitants. 

Almost 200 years ago, when colonists arrived to set up the city of Melbourne, they displaced Indiegnous people that had been living there for tens of thousands of years.

Languages, cultural practices and access to important sites were banned as the Bunurong and Wurundjeri people were pushed off their land.

Now, the Wurundjeri and Bunurong people have reasserted their status as traditional owners.

Despite several years of discussion, the two groups have not been able to agree on a boundary line across the city's centre, so the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council stepped in with a proposed border. Both groups agreed on that proposal this week.

The traditional owner groups will now have their recognised land expanded, with councils, businesses and communities to refer to the new maps from July 1. 

Bunurong man Dan Turnbull, who is CEO of the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, says his people are “deeply excited” by the outcome.

“I'm only speaking for our group, but I think both groups would agree that in order to reach this outcome, that we've all had to be quite flexible,” he said.

More details are available here.