Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC

Warnambool

Registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations on 3 August 2011.

The Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC) is the registered native title body corporate nominated as the Eastern Maar People's agent to manage their native title as determined by consent in Lovett on behalf of the Gunditjmara People v State of Victoria (No 5) [2011] FCA 932.

The EMAC represents the Eastern Maar People whose native title rights and interests were recognised in Lovett on behalf of the Gunditjmara People v State of Victoria (No 5) [2011] FCA 932.

Whilst that determination recognised the native title rights of both the Eastern Maar and Gunditjmara peoples as joint native title holders, the EMAC was appointed solely to represent the Eastern Maar peoples. EMAC is now a joint Registered Aboriginal Party alongside the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (GMTOAC) for part of the area.

Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) status in Victoria

On 5 December 2013 the EMAC was appointed by the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council as a Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic). On 6 February 2020 a request to vary the area contained within the RAP boundary was approved.

Area of responsibility

In its role as a RAP, the EMAC is responsible for land that extends as far north as Ararat and includes Warnambool, Port Fairy and the Great Ocean Road areas. It also includes 100m out to sea from low tide, and includes the Twelve Apostles. The region is located in south-west Victoria.

Land in the original application (2013)

The land in the original application is shared with GMTOAC as joint RAPs. It is located east of the Shaw River and south-east of Dunkeld. A map can be found in the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council 2013 Media Release document attached below.

Land covered by the extended boundary (2020)

The area was extended in 2020. This extension includes the townships of Warnambool, Terang, Mortlake, Camperdown, Colac, Apollo Bay, Lorne, Cressy and the Great Otway National Park. Its northernmost point is just across the Wimmera River. A map of the original area and the extended area can be found in the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council's 2020 Statement document attached below. A more detailed map can be found from the Victorian Government's map of the negotiated settlement area also attached below.

See the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council for a detailed decision history.

Activities as a RAP

The EMAC was established to hold, manage, protect and promote the laws, culture and traditional rights, interests and aspirations of the Eastern Maar Traditional Owner Group, particularly through the Cultural Heritage Management Plan (EMAC, 2022). 

In 2022, the EMAC partnered with 'Mana Developments' consulting team to deliver businesses, products and services that align with the Eastern Maar peoples' values, with the aim of strengthening the economic independence of EMAC citizens (EMAC, 2022).

The EMAC have also been strong advocates for protecting the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park (EMAC, Aug 2020) and protecting culturally significant trees that would have been destroyed by the Western Highway duplication project (EMAC, Oct 2020).

Related Entries

References

Documents

Glossary