The Solo Traveller
Your independence, passion, and lifelong memories.
Sustainability
Nganjarli Gorge in Murujuga National Park. Photography: Western Australian Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions and Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation.
Murujuga cultural landscape receives UNESCO World Heritage Listing
By Michael Webster
Murujuga, the world’s largest rock art site located on the Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia, has officially been confirmed as Australia’s latest Cultural World Heritage Site at the 47th World Heritage Committee at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Murujuga is Australia’s 21st World Heritage Site and the second to be recognised for its Aboriginal cultural values (after The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape located within Gunditjmara Country in south-eastern Australia).
Murujuga was listed with an amendment by UNESCO member states for the Australian government to continue research and monitoring of industrial impacts on the site. This is in reference to the impacts of pollution from Woodside Energy’s North West Shelf liquefied natural gas processing facility, which research has shown is accelerating the weathering and degradation of the over one million petroglyphs which make up this globally significant rock art site.
Located on the Dampier Archipelago and Burrup Peninsula, Murujuga is one of the most significant cultural landscapes on Earth. Its richly layered red rock escarpments are home to an estimated two million petroglyphs, dating back more than 50,000 years. These ancient stone carvings document the connection between Indigenous Peoples and Country through time – stories of land, sea, ceremony, family, and spirit etched into stone.
Petroglyphs at Murujuga the world’s largest rock art site. Photography: Save our Songlines.
Turtles with eggs laid at Murujuga. Photography: Western Australian Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions and Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation.
At the heart of Murujuga is the Ngarda-Ngarli, the five language groups that are custodians, who continue to care for this land and sea country. In the Ngarluma language, ‘ngurra’ means ‘Country’ and to the Ngarda-Ngarli, Murujuga is not only home, but also a living ancestor, a keeper of stories, and a place of continuing cultural practice.
“My family and community have worked for many years for World Heritage protection for Murujuga’s ancient rock art,” Raelene Cooper, Murujuga custodian of the Mardudhunera people and Founder of Save our Songlines (an Aboriginal-led campaign advocating for the protection of Murujuga) told The Solo Traveller. “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. Our rock art tells the stories of our people and maintains our songlines and bloodline connection to our ngurra.”
Murujuga Country. Photography: Save our Songlines.
Visitors can experience the cultural richness of Murujuga through guided tours led by Traditional Owners. These immersive experiences offer a rare opportunity to see the ancient petroglyphs through the eyes of the people who have lived with and cared for this Country for thousands of generations. Guided tours are available through the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and can be booked from the town of Karratha, the gateway to the Burrup Peninsula.
Michael Webster is The Solo Traveller’s International Community Development Lead.
