Budj Bim and the ancient eel farmsCEFR A2
26 Apr 2026
Adapted from Kevin Rennie, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Shalev Cohen, Unsplash
Budj Bim in western Victoria is home to very old eel farms. Indigenous people farmed eels there for thousands of years. Scientists say one of the systems is about 6,600 years old, based on carbon-dating.
The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019. Budj Bim is a dormant volcano with ancient lava flows, and the site was listed for its cultural importance alone.
Local groups offer guided tours of the eel traps and stone houses near Lake Condah. At the Tae Rak Aquaculture centre visitors can see stone holding tanks and try eel tasting at a small cafe.
Difficult words
- eel — a long fish often used for foodeel farms, eels, eel traps, eel tasting
- indigenous — people who lived in a place first
- carbon-dating — a method to find the age of things
- dormant — not active now but could start again
- aquaculture — the farming of fish and water animals
- cultural — connected with beliefs and traditions of people
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Would you try eel tasting at the centre? Why or why not?
- Which would you like to see: the eel traps or the stone houses? Why?
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