Murujuga Rock Art: UNESCO World Heritage Listing Approved
Murujuga Rock Art Site achieves UNESCO World Heritage Status, Amidst Ongoing Industry Concerns
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global Recognition for Ancient Cultural Landscape
Murujuga, a meaningful Aboriginal cultural landscape in western Australia, has officially been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, marking a monumental achievement for its Traditional Custodians and a global recognition of its outstanding worldwide heritage values. The declaration, made in Paris, signifies a new era of protection for the ancient rock art, which holds immense cultural and historical importance for the Ngarda-Ngarli people.
A Legacy Carved in Stone
The Murujuga peninsula, located near Karratha in northwest Western Australia, is renowned for its vast collection of petroglyphs, estimated to be among the largest and oldest in the world, with some dating back over 50,000 years. These intricate carvings, etched into the landscape by the Ngarda-Ngarli people, tell stories of creation, law, and connection to country, representing a living cultural heritage that has been protected and managed by Indigenous communities for millennia.
The UNESCO World Heritage listing is a testament to the enduring cultural practices and deep spiritual connection the Ngarda-Ngarli people have with this sacred land. It acknowledges Murujuga not just as a site of ancient art,but as a vibrant,living cultural landscape that continues to hold profound meaning for its Traditional Custodians.
Hopes and Cautions: Balancing Heritage and industry
While the global recognition is a cause for celebration, concerns remain regarding the ongoing impact of industrial advancement on the Murujuga site. The peninsula is home to significant industrial infrastructure, including gas plants, a fertiliser plant, and iron ore and salt export facilities.
Raelene Cooper, a mardathoonera woman and Murujuga traditional custodian who attended the UNESCO meeting, expressed her gratitude for the global recognition but voiced apprehension about the potential for continued harm from industry. “This is a momentous day for our old people and our future generations, to have Murujuga’s outstanding universal heritage values recognised by the world,” she stated. Though, she cautioned, “Fertiliser plants are still being built around our sacred sites and polluting gas plants will emit toxic acid on our rock art for another 50 years. We will continue to fight for protection for this very special place,and the world is now aware of what we are up against.”
Woodside,a company with operations in the region,acknowledged the listing as ”well-deserved global recognition of the petroglyphs and the unique living cultural values of Murujuga.” They expressed their commitment to “continuing to work closely with the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and Traditional Custodians on the continued protection and management of this globally significant area.”
A Milestone for Indigenous Heritage Protection
The prosperous nomination of Murujuga highlights the importance of free, prior, and informed consent from Indigenous communities in heritage protection efforts.As Minister for the Environment and Water,Tanya Plibersek,noted,”For more than 50,000 years,the Ngarda-ngarli people have protected and managed this significant land and seascape – and today,I am proud to announce that Murujuga will recieve another level of protection via the World Heritage system.” she further emphasized that the nomination had the full support of the five language groups who collectively care for Murujuga.
This achievement places Murujuga among Australia’s other esteemed World Heritage sites, such as the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, and the Great Barrier Reef, underscoring the nation’s rich and diverse cultural and natural heritage. The inscription also aligns Murujuga with other newly recognised global sites, including the Xixia Imperial tombs in China and the Faya Palaeolandscape in the United Arab Emirates, further cementing its place on the international stage of cultural significance.