Framlingham on the Hopkins River

Framlingham is situated on the Hopkins River. The history of the Framlingham Aboriginal Mission, the native forest and traditional eel traps are among the defining themes of the area. Travellers who choose Framlingham as a destination will find more than a single attraction: the river, cultural history and the importance of the forest to Aboriginal communities offer different reasons to explore the area.

Mission history and cultural significance

The land between Framlingham and Purnim was the site of an Aboriginal mission station from 1865 to 1889. The Framlingham Aboriginal Mission site has potential archaeological remains. The surviving church, cemetery and trees are also significant. The site has historical, scientific, archaeological and social significance—dimensions that extend beyond a single building and reveal the different aspects of the place.

Framlingham Mission Church is a place of potential Aboriginal cultural significance. Framlingham Mission Cemetery is associated with Aboriginal cultural significance. For a trip with children, the mission’s history can prompt conversations about memory, how places are treated, and the importance of history to communities. The mission site can be considered as a distinct historical focus, without conflating it with all the other themes of the area.

Framlingham Forest: nature and community

Framlingham Forest is an Indigenous Protected Area and includes one of the larger remaining areas of native forest in south-west Victoria. The forest has spiritual, social, historical, cultural and economic significance for the Kirrae-Whurrong community, as well as local and other Aboriginal people. Its significance is therefore not defined solely by its native forest: it is also part of cultural connections and a history that matters to different communities.

This focus differs from the mission’s history and broadens the view of Framlingham. If you want to focus on nature and cultural connections when choosing a holiday destination, the forest is an important part of the area’s character. Together with the mission’s history, it shows that Framlingham offers several themes that can be explored independently.

The Hopkins River and traditional eel traps

There is a fishing area on the Hopkins River at Framlingham. The river also has a distinct cultural dimension: the eel traps in the Hopkins River near Framlingham are places of potential Aboriginal cultural significance. Framlingham rangers clean traditional Gunditjmara and Kirrae Whurrong eel traps in the river. Fishing and maintaining traditional traps are therefore different ways of engaging with the Hopkins River; they should not be understood as the same experience.

The community is currently restoring traditional stone eel weirs on the Hopkins River to catch Kooyang eels. These are considered a culturally significant food. The eel weirs, traps and fishing illustrate different connections between the river, food and cultural practice. This topic may be especially interesting to you if, alongside nature and history, you would also like to learn about local traditions during your trip.

Which focus suits your trip?

If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Framlingham, first consider which aspect you’d like to focus on during your stay.

More destination pages: Clifton Springs, Tonimbuk, Bright, Rockbank, Bundalong, Woodend, Durham Lead and Gruyere.

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.