Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Perspectives on Melbourne's Landmark
Melissa-Jane Fogarty’s new book, ‘NARM-JAAP: A Flinders Street Station History’, offers a comprehensive exploration of Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station, emphasizing its cultural significance from the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung perspective. This book reframes the station not just as a transport hub but as a site rich in Indigenous connections and history. These connections and stories predate the colonial structures that define the modern landscape.
For the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people, Flinders Street Station stands on land that has always been a part of their Country. Their voices, ancestral spirits, and connections continue to shape the meaning of this site today. Fogarty’s work highlights the continuing presence of Traditional Owners’ voices and ancestral connections at this significant location.
Bringing Indigenous Voices to the Forefront
‘NARM-JAAP’ brings Indigenous perspectives to the forefront by offering a layered narrative that challenges and complements the familiar colonial histories associated with the site. The book highlights how the station has evolved over time while maintaining its role as a bustling community epicentre and meeting place.
Fogarty, a Mununjali author and illustrator, represents a new generation of First Nations voices reshaping Australian storytelling by including diverse historical perspectives. Her work contributes to broader dialogues about Melbourne’s landmarks and their significance in First Nations history. GOOD READING MAGAZINE describes it as ‘an important book . . . giving us an understanding of how a place of Indigenous life and gathering transformed to feature one of the most recognised buildings in the world’.
In addition, READINGS highlights it as ‘both an interesting part of Australia’s history that is rarely considered, and an inspiring reflection of the cultural importance of sharing music, art, and culture’.
Fogarty invites younger audiences to engage with history in meaningful ways, encouraging reflection on place, memory, and identity in relation to Melbourne’s iconic sites. ‘NARM-JAAP’ opens up conversations about how Melbourne understands its iconic landmarks and highlights the ongoing presence and influence of Traditional Owners’ voices in shaping the site’s modern narrative.
Melissa-Jane Fogarty’s book is timely and thought-provoking, aligning with current efforts to recognise and honour First Nations history and culture within Australia. As a result, ‘NARM-JAAP’ offers a unique and vital perspective on one of Melbourne’s most recognisable landmarks, prompting readers to reconsider the cultural significance of Flinders Street Station.
Last updated: 21 April 2026, 3:34 pm
