50,000-Year-Old Rock Art Joins World Heritage List

Western Australia's Murujuga rock art has officially joined the UNESCO World Heritage List, marking a historic moment for the Ngarda-Ngarli Traditional Owners who have protected these sacred sites for tens of thousands of years.

The decision came last week in Paris, where the World Heritage Committee recognised Murujuga as one of the world's most significant cultural landscapes. The site features over one million petroglyphs (rock engravings), with some estimated to be 50,000 years old.

What Makes Murujuga Special

Located on the Burrup Peninsula in north-west WA, Murujuga represents the world's largest collection of rock art. The petroglyphs include:

• The oldest known depiction of a human face

• Engravings of animals that lived thousands of years ago

• Sacred creation stories preserved in stone

• Evidence of continuous cultural practices spanning millennia

MAC chair Peter Hicks expressed the significance of this recognition: "It is recognition of the way our ancestors have managed this extraordinary landscape for over 50,000 years."

Illustration from Ken Mulvaney’s Burrup and Beyond, 2013 reprinted 2018.

Industrial Concerns Remain

While the World Heritage listing brings international recognition, concerns persist about the nearby North West Shelf gas project. Earlier this year, the Federal Government conditionally approved Woodside's gas plant extension until 2070.

Traditional Owners have mixed feelings about the listing. Raelene Cooper from Save Our Songlines called it bittersweet, noting that "the world is now aware of what we are up against" regarding industrial development near the sacred site.

The UN's advisory body ICOMOS has already raised concerns about potential impacts from industrial emissions on the ancient rock art. They've called for Australia to guarantee long-term conservation measures by 2027.

A Milestone for First Nations Heritage

Murujuga becomes only the second Australian site recognised specifically for its Aboriginal cultural values, following Victoria's Budj Bim aquaculture system in 2019.

Deputy chair of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, Belinda Churnside, told the committee: "This has been a long-awaited journey and a fight for our elders... we are thankful to receive this recognition from a global scale."

Looking Forward

Environment Minister Murray Watt has promised to "ensure this outstanding place is protected now and for future generations." The government will need to balance heritage protection with existing industrial operations, a challenge that will require ongoing monitoring and management.

The Greens are pushing for the cancellation of the North West Shelf project extension, citing UN experts' warnings about threats to the rock art's longevity.

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