Healing Country with Kaarla at Hill View Bushland

First Nations Peoples have been the custodians of the Perth region for millennia. During this time, they have developed deep connections with and knowledge of this Boodja (land/Country). Kaarla (fire) has been an integral part of this relationship and used on Boodja at the right time and by the right people as part of culturally defined land stewardship and ceremonies.

Today, Boodja looks different, and cultural fire practices are very rarely used on remnant vegetation in the Perth metropolitan area.

In early June, marking the start of Makuru– the cold and wet season in the Noongar calendar- an Elder-led cultural burn was carried out at Hill View Bushland. This was a group collaboration between Elders, Indigenous rangers, the Town of Victoria Park, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), and Curtin University.

The burn took place in a remnant patch of Banksia Woodland that had not experienced fire for over 50 years.

Some areas were in a degraded state, and fire was reintroduced to help restore ecological balance—promoting nutrient cycling and encouraging seedling regeneration.

Beyond its environmental goals, the burn also aimed to support and revitalise Noongar cultural practices and enhance connection with the site.

Curtin University PhD candidate Zoe Webber will be collaboratively monitoring the site over the next year with Elders to study the ecological changes and impacts of the burn as part of her research.

“The cultural burn at Hill view wasn’t just about setting fire to the bush. It was about bringing people and agencies together to work alongside us Noongar people and genuinely listen and understand our culture. Work with us and work together, we know the culture of kaala, now we know the science behind it! Fantastic to work with our Town, Zoe the young scientist and the DFES mob.” Auntie Roni Forrest, Minang and Ngadju Elder.

The Urban Bushland Council is greatly supportive of this project, and we are very excited to see the outcomes of this work in the years to come. As many of us recognise, our urban remnant bushlands have been lived in and cared for for thousands of years. As such, it is important that we support and advocate for Noongar aspirations for these places.

For further information about this project, please use this link 

Written by Zoe Webber, Auntie Roni Forrest, and Oscar Jones