At a quiet ceremony in Central Springs Reserve this week, Djaara launched Phase 2 of of their Balak Kalik Manya – Walking Together project.
The development is a Dja Dja Wurrung-led project celebrating connection, culture, and caring for Country. The event marked the first of three new sites developed under this phase of the program, which brings Traditional Owners, local government, and industry together in partnership.
Balak Kalik Manya, meaning Walking Together in Dja Dja Wurrung language, is led by Djaara—the Dja Dja Wurrung people—and their enterprise and natural resource business arm, Djandak. The program is supported by Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, with Hepburn Shire Council as land manager. Together, these partners are creating places that connect people with Dja Dja Wurrung culture, the natural environment, and each other.
Central Springs sits within the heart of Dja Dja Wurrung Country, a place where generations of Djaara, local families, and visitors have gathered to enjoy the mineral springs, shaded creek walks, and open spaces. The Balak Kalik Manya project builds on this legacy, weaving new stories into the landscape through cultural design, community collaboration, and environmental care.
New features include a Yarning Circle, a Nature Appreciation Space, and interpretive artworks created by Djaara artists. Around the mineral spring pumps, visitors can see striking new inlaid designs that symbolise the ongoing relationship between people and Country.
The project reflects the goals of the Dhelkunya Dja Country Plan 2014–2034, Djaara’s long-term vision for healthy Country, cultural strength, and self-determination. It also draws life from the Recognition and Settlement Agreement signed in 2013—the first of its kind in Victoria—which formally recognises Dja Dja Wurrung as Traditional Owners and establishes shared commitments to care for Country and community.
Phase 2 of Balak Kalik Manya extends the work begun in Phase 1, with new projects at Central Springs (Daylesford), Ironbark Gully (Bendigo), and Waanyarra Dum (Knight Street, Bendigo). The initiative supports Djaara employment and training pathways while deepening public connection to culture through storytelling and design.
The launch at Central Springs reflects a growing local partnership between Djaara and Hepburn Shire, seen in recent projects such as the Djuwang Baring site, the return of traditional names including Lalgambuk (Mt Franklin) and Larni Barramal Yaluk and ongoing collaboration on community planning.
Balak Kalik Manya – Walking Together reminds us that reconciliation is not a single act but a shared journey—one that honours the stories, spirit, and enduring connection of Dja Dja Wurrung people to Country. As the project grows, it offers an open invitation to all: to walk together, learn together, and care for this place—Dja Dja Wurrung Country—for generations to come.
