TRADITIONAL Owners from the Bunurong Land Council helped work on the designs of the new Edithvale, Chelsea, and Bonbeach station precincts.
A series of Indigenous references have been incorporated into the new train stations, which opened this year.
The Level Crossing Removal Project worked with the Traditional Owners from the Bunurong Land Council on the project. Inspiration for the references came from possum skin cloaks and the shape of a carved shield.
Patterns have been imprinted onto the new 11 kilometre walking track. Sculptures featuring the design of the possum skin cloak have also been installed.
The Bunurong phrase “NER-BO-MALL WANDANARO TUDUK MARNEBEEK” has been written on the new pedestrian bridge at Chelsea. The phrase translates to “help look out for the good country.”
Carrum MP Sonya Kilkenny welcomed the designs. “It is wonderful to see the rich culture of the Bunurong people being celebrated as part of works to remove 20 dangerous and congested level crossings along the Frankston Line by 2025,” she said.
Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson said “the three new station precincts at Edithvale, Chelsea, and Bonbeach are enriched by the highlighting of Indigenous culture. By working closely with the Bunurong Land Council the project is leaving a lasting cultural legacy as well as providing significant upgrades to the station precincts themselves.”