Lake Condah in south-western Victoria is at the heart of Gunditjmara country and the Budj Bim lava flow and is a place where Gunditjmara people developed Australia’s oldest and largest aquaculture system for the farming of eels.

A drain through Lake Condah was continually excavated from 1904 until 1954 to allow farmers increased access to land for agricultural purposes.  It has always been an aspiration for Gunditjmara people to restore water to the Lake and enable us to continue our traditional practices. A small diversionary weir was constructed in the drain during the mid-1980s in an attempt to restore water to the lake, but it proved unsuccessful.

In 2004, the Lake Condah Water Restoration Business Plan outlined a renewed strategy for one of the most significant wetland and archaeological restoration projects ever undertaken in Australia. Planning for the construction of a weir and fishway to restore permanent water in the wetlands included extensive community engagement and detailed scientific research. An important aspect of the project was an assessment of biodiversity and fish movement that provided baseline data relating to eels and other aquatic species prior to the works.  This study was a collaborative effort between Traditional Owners and the Arthur Rylah Institute of Environmental Research, and utilised a blend of Aboriginal traditional knowledge and scientific approaches.

In 2010, the new weir in Lake Condah was constructed and has reactivated the ancient eel fishery network and restored the lake’s ecology.  Large numbers of fish and acoustically tagged eels moved into the lake soon after it was flooded and have continued to live there. Gunditjmara people can now enjoy access the Lake more often throughout the year and we continue to make traditional grass eel baskets for the harvest of eels.