Published on Thursday, 29 May 2025 at 5:00:00 PM
In early June, the Town, together with Aboriginal Elders, Traditional Custodians, Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA, and Curtin University, will support a cultural burn at Hill View Bushland.
The Town is proud to facilitate cultural practices that strengthen our connection to Country and contribute to a more reconciled community.
Cultural burning
Cultural burning is a traditional practice used by Aboriginal people to manage land, support biodiversity, and maintain a spiritual connection to Country. These low, gentle burns are intentionally slow, with flames rising no more than a metre, clearing away dead matter without harming the land.
Cultural burns are a meaningful way to protect and regenerate the land, and pass valuable knowledge across generations.
About Hill View Bushland
Located at the corner of Hill View Terrace and Berwick Street in East Vic Park, Hill View Bushland (pictured below) is a valuable piece of remnant banksia woodland. The area hasn’t seen fire for more than 50 years, resulting in an accumulation of dead and degraded vegetation.
A cultural burn at Hill View will reduce future bushfire risk, promote new growth of native species, and support biodiversity. It’s a step toward healing our land, guided by the people who have always understood how to best care for it.
Safety and planning
The Town is working closely with DFES and Traditional Custodians to ensure a safe, respectful, and well-managed burn. Key measures include:
- The burn will only proceed in safe weather conditions
- Only small sections of dead vegetation will be burned at a time
- Fire control measures will ensure minimal impact on surrounding homes, people, and wildlife
- Traffic management will be implemented, with access to homes maintained
To ensure safety and space for this meaningful cultural practice, the burn will not be open to the public. We kindly ask our community to respect this.
Looking ahead
After the burn, Curtin University and the Town’s Urban Ecosystems team will monitor the site to study the ecological outcomes and track regeneration. We will share updates throughout this process, so keep an eye out on our channels.
Photography credit: Richard Wong for Friends of Jirdarup Bushland, 2019
More information
Shire of York's cultural burning brings reconciliation, healing to WA community | ABC News
Reconciliation in Vic Park | Town of Victoria Park
Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan | Town of Victoria Park
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