Native Grasses

Indigenous Uses of Native Grasses in Victoria, Australia

MLA Educational Series — Indigenous Knowledge, Country, and Ecology

Indigenous peoples of Victoria developed a sophisticated understanding of their environments, cultivating, harvesting, and managing a vast array of native plants for food, fibre, medicine, and ceremony. Among these, native grasses and grass-like plants provided essential materials for weaving, binding, and toolmaking, and in some cases, food. This article examines key native grasses used across Victoria — particularly on Wadawurrung and broader Kulin Nations Country — and their roles in Indigenous ecological and cultural practice.

Country Context: Wadawurrung and Kulin Nations

Across Victoria, native grasses once dominated the open woodlands, volcanic plains, and wetlands. On Wadawurrung Country, stretching from Geelong to Ballarat and the Bellarine Peninsula, grasslands such as Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra) and Tussock-grasses (Poa spp.) were integral to both the ecosystem and cultural practices. Other Kulin Nations — including the Woi Wurrung (Wurundjeri), Bunurong, Taungurung, and Dja Dja Wurrung peoples — also utilised these plants for weaving, cordage, food, and construction materials (Gott 2015; De Angelis n.d.; Yarra Ranges Council n.d.-a).

Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra)

Known by Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung peoples as Wuulot or Wuuloitch, Kangaroo Grass was one of Victoria’s most valued native species. The leaves and stems were twisted into string for bags, nets, and woven mats. Seeds were sometimes collected and ground into flour, though this was less common than in the drier inland regions (ANBG 2010; De Angelis n.d.).

On Wadawurrung Country, grasslands of Themeda triandra formed part of managed fire regimes — cool burns that promoted regrowth and maintained open hunting grounds for kangaroo and emu.

Tussock-grasses (Poa labillardierei and Poa sieberiana)

Poa labillardierei (Large/Common Tussock-grass), known to the Woi Wurrung as Bobat, was prized for its strong, fibrous leaves. These were split and twisted into cordage used for making nets, bags, and baskets (Yarra Ranges Council n.d.-a). Poa sieberiana (Grey Tussock-grass) was also used in weaving, providing long, flexible fibres suitable for mats and bedding.

In the wetlands and plains of the Kulin Nations, women’s weaving knowledge connected the plant world with seasonal cycles and kinship obligations, linking ecological practice to identity and Country (De Angelis n.d.; Gott 2015).

Common Reed (Phragmites australis)

Called Djarg, Jaark, Kaerk, Taark/Tark-korn, Kowat or Charr-ak in different Victorian languages, Common Reed was among the most versatile plants used (ANBG n.d.). The crisp root tips were eaten, while the tall, straight stems were shaped into spear shafts. Reed leaves were woven into mats and baskets, and the hollow stems were fashioned into ornaments and pipe-like instruments.

Wetlands such as Lake Connewarre and the Barwon River system — within Wadawurrung Country — contained vast reed beds that were sustainably harvested, reflecting sophisticated management of riparian ecosystems.

Porcupine Grass (Triodia scariosa)

Found in the Mallee regions of north-west Victoria, Triodia scariosa (Porcupine Grass) was less a food source than a material for tool technology. The resin secreted by the plant, when heated, became a powerful thermoplastic adhesive used for hafting stone tools, axes, and spear points. This technique was widespread across southern Australia, including Victoria (Memmott, Long & Thomson 2012; ANBG 2009; VicFlora n.d.).
On Country, resin collection was both a practical and social activity — often undertaken communally, with fire used carefully to extract resin from spinifex clumps.

Other Grass-like Plants (Rushes and Sedges)

While not true grasses, rushes and sedges were culturally grouped with them due to their similar use in fibre craft and weaving:

·       Common Sedge (Carex tereticaulis) – stems split and used in basketry and mat making (De Angelis n.d.).

·       Cumbungi/Bulrush (Typha domingensis) – roots roasted and peeled for food; fibres twisted into string; young shoots eaten; downy flower heads used for bedding (De Angelis n.d.).

Such plants flourished in the swamps, creeks, and lagoons of Wurundjeri and Wadawurrung Country, providing a steady supply of materials for craft, trade, and ceremony.

Cultural and Ecological Significance

Compared with other regions of Australia, Indigenous peoples in Victoria relied less on grass seeds as a staple food. As Gott (2015) notes, “grass seeds were hardly used at all” in the south-east, with yam daisies (Microseris walteri) and other root vegetables forming the main plant-based diet. Nonetheless, native grasses and reed-like plants were vital to the cultural economy of Victoria — as materials for weaving, fire management, adhesives, and construction — illustrating a deep ecological intelligence grounded in balance and reciprocity with Country.

Reference List

ANBG (Australian National Botanic Gardens) 2010, Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra) – Aboriginal Plant Use, viewed 8 September 2025.
ANBG (Australian National Botanic Gardens) n.d., Common Reed (Phragmites australis) – Aboriginal Plant Use, viewed 8 September 2025.
ANBG 2009, Aboriginal plant use and technology (education notes), viewed 8 September 2025.
De Angelis, D. n.d., Aboriginal use of plants of the Greater Melbourne area, Maribyrnong City Council, viewed 8 September 2025.
Gott, B. 2015, ‘The use of plants by the Aborigines of south-eastern Australia’, Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria, viewed 8 September 2025.
Memmott, P., Long, S. & Thomson, L. 2012, ‘The Point of Spinifex: Aboriginal uses of spinifex grasses in Australia’, Ethnobotany Research & Applications, viewed 8 September 2025.
VicFlora (Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria) n.d., Triodia scariosa – species account, viewed 8 September 2025.
Yarra Ranges Council n.d.-a, Poa labillardierei (Common Tussock-grass) – Aboriginal Use, viewed 8 September 2025.
Yarra Ranges Council n.d.-b, Poa sieberiana (Grey Tussock-grass) – Aboriginal Use, viewed 8 September 2025.

Written, Researched and Directed by James Vegter (22 October 2025)

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Magic Lands Alliance acknowledges the Traditional Owners, Custodians, and First Nations communities across Australia and internationally. We honour their enduring connection to the sky, land, waters, language, and culture. We pay respect to Elders past, present, and emerging, and to all First Peoples’ communities and language groups. This article draws only on publicly available information; many cultural practices remain the intellectual property of their respective communities.