The City of Melville local government area lies within the traditional lands of the Beeliar people,[1] a subgroup of the Whadjuk dialectical group of the Noongar Indigenous Australians.These are several significant Noongar sites within the City of Melville.[2]
| Noongar name | European name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Willagee | Source of red ochre. | |
| Marradungup | Atwell Gallery site | Meeting place and camping ground, including for local and visiting groups. |
| Jenalup | Blackwall Reach | Very sacred, with strong ties to the Dreamtime stories of all Western Australian Aboriginal people |
| Niergarup | Preston Point | Important place of ceremony and camping for local Noongar people. |
| Yagan Mia | Wireless Hill | Also known as Yagan's Lookout. |
| Bateman | The site of a large dispute with early settlers, in which many Noongar peopled died trying to protect their land. | |
| Melville Wetlands | Water is essential, and all water bodies have spiritual qualities for the Indigenous people. | |
| Booragoon Lake | Permanent camping ground for fishing and gathering. | |
| Murdoch University site, including North Lake | A burial site. | |
| Piney Lakes Reserve | Sacred place for women. Also used for young boys' level one initiation.[3] | |
| Goolugatup | Point Heathcote | Permanent lookout, fishing and camping ground. Also used for level two initiation ceremonies. |
| Dyoondalup | Burke Drive | A source for quartz for axes and spearheads. Also used for men's business and level three initiation. |
| Dyoondalup | Point Walter | The sand bar was used as a river crossing. |
| Quaada Gabee | Bicton foreshore | Contained freshwater springs. |
| Moondaap | Point Dundas | |
| Margamangup | Lucky Bay foreshore (Attadale) | |
| Kooyagoordup | Waylen Bay foreshore | |
| Doontanboro | Melville Water | |
| Wagoorjup | Canning Bridge | |
| Gabbi Kowangulup | Canning River mouth | |
| Booragoon | Canning River, lower reaches[4] | |
| Gabbiljee | Bull Creek | The wetlands provide more foods than the surrounding drier areas. |
| Two Caves | Believed to be the final resting place of the Waarkarl or Rainbow Serpent. | |