An Aboriginal organisation operating in the Grampians has described alleged vandalism of an ancient ceremonial landmark at Lake Bolac as ‘traumatic and heartbreaking’.

Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, responsible for cultural heritage protection and management in the area, alerted Aboriginal Victoria to the alleged removal of an estimated 60-metre section of an eel-shaped stone structure earlier this week.   

The 176-metre landmark, on private land and registered with Aboriginal Victoria, is known as the Kooyang Stone Arrangement, which Eastern Maar believes was created more than 1500 years ago.

Officers’ initial inspections revealed the entire tail portion of the eel was  missing. Aboriginal Victoria has launched an investigation.

The corporation outlined in a statement how the stone arrangement was steeped in cultural and historic importance and was a major gathering place before European colonisation.

“We cannot understate the importance of this site or the devastation that this destruction has caused,” the statement showed.

“Different language groups and different nations came to this space to celebrate the life cycle of eels, which are of great cultural importance and the basis for an entire aquaculture industry.

“It is traumatic and heartbreaking to see such an important place that is considered vital to the identities, histories, practices and well-being of our people in the state that is in.”

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