Werribee South Market Gardens framed by Kerrie Gottliebsen
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Werribee South Market Gardens

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Description

This artwork by Kerrie Gottliebsen celebrates Victoria’s Market Gardens in Werribee South, situated on alluvial land at the southern end of the Werribee River where it enters Port Phillip Bay

The area was part of the large Chirnside Werribee Park estate (1860s-1890). The descendants of Andrew Chirnside gradually dispersed the estate, predominantly used for sheep grazing, first by having tenant farmers and later by freehold sales.

Traditional Owners – Bunurong and Wadawurrung:
The Bunurong and Wadawurrung peoples are the two main Aboriginal groups who traditionally lived on the land encompassing Werribee South, with the Werribee River acting as a boundary between their territories. Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung are also acknowledged as traditional owners on the northeast side of the Werribee River. 

Werribee River as a Boundary
The Werribee River, also known as “Wirribi Yaluk,” marked the boundary between the Wadawurrung and Bunurong language groups, with the Wadawurrung people living to the west and the Bunurong to the east. 

In 1904 the State Government purchased 9400 ha in Werribee South for closer-settlement farming, but mistakenly subdivided the land into lots which were not viable. The mistake was corrected by the enlargement of the lots (1909) and the provision of irrigation to supplement the area’s relatively low rainfall.
Early Settlement and Agricultural Focus

Werribee was established as an agricultural settlement in the 1850s and became an important agricultural centre, especially after the first European settlers arrived in the 1920s.

Italian Migrant Influence

Italian, particularly Sicilian, immigrants, were employed on soldier-settler dairy farms and later took up tenant farming on the Catholic church’s Corpus Christi property on Werribee Park. These immigrants later acquired dairy holdings and transformed them into market gardens, becoming a vital part of the area’s economy.

Post-War Development:

After WWII, migrants from Europe, including Italians, established market gardens in Werribee South, utilizing newly installed irrigation systems.

Werribee South’s market gardens continue to be a crucial source of fresh produce, supplying Melbourne with a large portion of its vegetables, including cauliflower, broccoli, and lettuce.

Protected Agricultural Land:

The majority of the land in Werribee South is still zoned as agricultural, protected by Green Wedge legislation due to its importance in ensuring Melbourne’s food security.

The Werribee South Market Gardens artwork is available in A4, A3, A2, A1 and the super enormous A0.

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