This site recreates an evocative true eco-space of Indigenous Flowering Grasslands, reclaiming a piece of local ecosystem back onto the very sites where they once thrived for untold millennia and revealing a living time capsule, as if the world has changed except for this small special space of local natural landscape and biodiversity - a ‘Lost Lands Found’.

Across our Hawthorn, Croydon and Wantirna campuses, the grasslands were designed by Wemba Wemba - Wergaia man Dean Stewart and organised by the Moondani Toombadool Centre.

Aunty Dot Peters AM

Yarra Yarra Elder Aunty Dot was born in 1930 and grew up in and around Healesville and Coranderrk, spending most of her life learning and teaching about culture in the community.

She was dedicated to progressing reconciliation in Victoria, working within the community to build understanding and respect between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the wider society.

Aunty Dot had a decades-long association with Swinburne and helped develop our Reconciliation Action Plan. She was generous with her time and very aware of the importance Swinburne places on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and engagement.

Aunty Dot’s legacy at Swinburne continues through her son, Dr Andrew Peters, and two nieces, Lea Jones and Vicky Peters, who all work at Swinburne.

  • Aunty Dot Peters Flowering Grassland on Hawthorn campus
    Aunty Dot Peters Flowering Grassland on Hawthorn campus
  • The early stage of Aunty Dot Peters Flowering Grassland on Croydon campus
    The early stage of Aunty Dot Peters Flowering Grassland on Croydon campus
  • The construction of Aunty Dot Peters Flowering Grassland on Wantirna campus
    The construction of Aunty Dot Peters Flowering Grassland on Wantirna campus

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