Kurtonitj Indigneous Protected Area (IPA) dedicated in 2009 is a beautiful 353 hectare wetland of national cultural and natural significance, in Victoria's Mt Eccles Volcanic Plain bioregion.
The natural landscape is formed by deep freshwater marshes and seasonally inundated shallow marshes. The property's western boundary is bordered by the crystal clear waters of Darlots Creek, known as Kallara in Gunditjmara language.
The Kurtonitj IPA forms part of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape, sacred to the Gunditjmara people. Ancient stone kooyang (eel) traps, stone channels, house sites and kooyang smoking trees, are scattered across the landscape.
The area is one of Australia’s earliest and largest aquaculture systems and the passage of the eels through the waterways is an important part of the Gunditjmara heritage. The Budj Bim rangers work to ensure the landscape is well managed to ensure optimum conditions for the survival of native species such as the eel and brolgas.
