LA TROBE university associate professor Jennifer Jones will unveil her study of the movement of indigenous Australians across the Loddon Plains since the 19th century gold rush.

Dr Jones will be the key speaker at a Pyramid Hill Historical Society event next Friday.

Society secretary Cheryl McKinnon said Dr Jones’ research project had examined the early impact of the gold rush and pastoral settlement on Barapa land “as a means to trace the life history of an apical Djaara woman, Emma Kerr”.

She said Dr Jones would share findings “on the movement of First Nations people across the Loddon Plains following the gold rush and land settlement” and give “a unique insight into our indigenous history”.

Dr Jones is associate professor in inter-disciplinary studies and history program co-ordinator, Department of Archaeology at La Trobe University.

Geological consultant Dr Rod Boucher will give a presentation on the geological formation of Pyramid Hill, the Terrick Ridge and Kow Swamp before the sociey screens the critically-acclaimed Lake of Scars documentary.

Lake of Scars is a feature-length documentary from director Bill Code that looks at the scar trees and middens of Lake Boort described as “a story of environment and heritage, water and culture. It is a story of generational change and an example of reconciliation between white and black Australians, with the highs and the lows”.

Next Friday’s event will include displays of artefacts from Lake Boort by Paul Haw and artefacts from the historical society’s collection.