Peter Hicks, Chair of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation
Senator The Hon Murray Watt, Minister for the Environment and Water
The Hon Matthew Swinbourn MLC, WA Minister for the Environment
After more than 50,000 years of being carefully protected and managed by its Traditional Owners and Custodians, the Murujuga Cultural Landscape has been recognised for its Outstanding Universal Value on the World Heritage List.
This landmark inscription for World Heritage status was determined at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris on Friday (local time).
It follows a tireless nomination process led by Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation on behalf of the Ngarda-Ngarli (Traditional Owners and Custodians), in partnership with the West Australian Government and with full support of the Australian Government.
The Murujuga Cultural Landscape is located in the north-west of Western Australia and is of immense cultural and spiritual significance. Murujuga represents the continuous traditional culture and practice of the area for at least 50,000 years, and we are pleased to see this Outstanding Universal Value recognised
It has the densest known concentration of petroglyphs of their kind anywhere in the world, with an estimated 1-2 million petroglyphs recorded in an area of more than 100,000 hectares, across land and sea country
Achieving World Heritage status ensures stronger protections under Australian legislation and will allow the world to celebrate this unique cultural landscape.
As part of the immediate inscription, the Australian Government will also provide a state of conservation report for consideration in 2027.
Murujuga will become only the second property in Australia recognised on the World Heritage List solely for its First Nations cultural heritage. This follows the World Heritage listing of Budj Bim in 2019.
Australia now has 21 properties on the World Heritage List, which include the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the Great Barrier Reef.
Quotes attributable to Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation chair Peter Hicks:
"We are elated to see the Murujuga Cultural Landscape recognised for its Outstanding Universal Value.
"This is an exceptionally proud moment for us. It is recognition of the hard work that MAC has put in to progressing this nomination, but it is also recognition of the way our ancestors have managed this extraordinary landscape for over 50,000 years. We are proud to continue that legacy.
"World Heritage is the mechanism we will use to continue to do what we have always done - protect this Ngurra and our culture for all future generations.
"At every step, this Indigenous-led process has reflected our aspirations for Ngurra in partnership with the State and the support of the Commonwealth and we thank them for their efforts, respect and most importantly, for undertaking their roles in this process without undermining Indigenous decision-making within the process.
"MAC represents the wishes and voices of the Ngarda-Ngarli (Traditional Owners and Custodians), and we are delighted that we have been able to deliver on their request for MAC to secure World Heritage Listing for the Murujuga Cultural Landscape."
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt:
"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 receive another level of protection via the World Heritage system.
"The Murujuga nomination had the free, prior and informed consent of the five language groups who all come together to care for Murujuga today.
"They were represented by the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, who I am delighted to stand alongside in Paris to oversee this historic moment for our country.
"It has been a great privilege to support the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Murujuga to see this globally significant cultural landscape included on the World Heritage List.
"The Australian Government is strongly committed to World Heritage and the protection of First Nations cultural heritage - and we will ensure this outstanding place is protected now and for future generations."
Quotes attributable to WA Minister for the Environment, Matthew Swinbourn MLC:
"The State Government is pleased to join with the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC) and the Australian Government to celebrate that the Murujuga Cultural Landscape has achieved World Heritage Listing.
"World Heritage status has been a long-standing aspiration for Ngarda-Ngarli, who represent the five custodial groups of Murujuga - the Ngarluma, Yindjibarndi, Yaburara, Mardudhunera and Wong-Goo-Tt-Oo peoples.
"This nomination has been led by MAC and is the first First-nations led World Heritage nomination in Western Australia.
"The Western Australian government thanks MAC for their tireless work on leading the nomination on behalf of Ngarda-Ngarli and strong partnership with government.
"The Western Australian Government, in partnership with MAC, will now implement the strategic management framework and establish the World Heritage property, ensuring the ongoing protection of this significant landscape which has been recognised today."
