Deen Maar Indigenous Protected Area


Deen Maar Indigenous Protected Area is an Indigenous Protected Area located in south-west Victoria, Australia on land bounded by the Eumeralla River and Bass Strait. The IPA has an area of. The country consists of limestone ridges, wetlands, lakes and sand dunes. It is the traditional home of the Peek Whurrong speakers of the Dhauwurdwurung Nation. The IPA takes its name from Deen Maar Island, which lies a short distance off the coast. It is classified as an IUCN Category VI protected area. It is within the boundaries of the Yambuk Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for the conservation of threatened species such as the orange-bellied parrot and hooded plover.

History

In 1842 Deen Maar was the site of conflict between the indigenous people of the area and European colonists. This conflict is referred to as the Eumerella Wars and took place over 20 years in the mid-19th century. The remains of people involved in the conflict are at Deen Maar.
The property was purchased in 1993 by ATSIC for the Framlingham Aboriginal Trust with the intention that it become an Indigenous Protected Area, it was granted this status in 1999. It was the first IPA in Victoria.