The Murujuga Cultural Landscape granted World Heritage status by UNESCO

The Murujuga Cultural Landscape, an area of ancient Aboriginal rock art located in the north-west of Western Australia has been recognised for its Outstanding Universal Value on the World Heritage List.

After more than 50,000 years of being carefully protected and managed by its Traditional Owners and Custodians, the Murujuga Cultural Landscape has been grnted World Heritage status - determined at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris on 11th June.

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 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.

Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation chair Peter Hicks notes "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."

Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt added "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."

Murujuga Cultural Site Credit: Shutterstock