Native Title Claim Hits Wyndham

A major native title claim covering most of Wyndham has reached a critical stage, placing the municipality among dozens of councils caught up in one of Victoria’s largest Indigenous land claims.

Councils, government agencies and other organisations have until 21 July 2026 to decide whether they want to become parties to the Federal Court proceedings before the case moves forward.

The claim, lodged on behalf of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People, covers around 10,424 square kilometres stretching across Melbourne and surrounding regions, including the majority of the Wyndham municipality.

While the size of the claim is significant, it does not apply to most privately owned homes or businesses.

(The Werribee River is the border of the claim)

Claim Could Impact Future Decisions

Instead, it largely relates to Crown land and public land where native title may still exist, including parks, reserves, waterways and other government-managed land.

For Wyndham, that means the claim could affect how some council-managed Crown land is dealt with if the Federal Court ultimately recognises native title in those areas.

The application was lodged in the Federal Court in October last year by representatives of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People and has since been accepted for registration by the National Native Title Tribunal, allowing it to proceed through the legal process.

The claim seeks recognition of native title rights across parts of Melbourne and surrounding regions extending from the Werribee River to the foothills of Mount Baw Baw.

It also makes clear that areas where native title has already been permanently extinguished are excluded, including most freehold land, public roads and many developed areas.

Most of Melbourne Covered in Title Claim

The Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People say they have maintained an ongoing cultural, spiritual and historical connection to the land and are seeking legal recognition of those rights where they continue to exist.

If native title is ultimately recognised over parts of the claim area, it could influence how certain Crown land is managed and how future decisions involving that land are made.

The 21 July 2026 deadline does not determine the outcome of the claim.

Rather, it is the cut-off for councils, government bodies, leaseholders and others with a recognised legal interest to apply to participate in the Federal Court proceedings before the case continues.