UNESCO has voted to include the Murujuga Cultural Landscape, home to the world’s greatest collection of ancient rock art, on the World Heritage List.
The bid for the listing was driven by the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and supported by the Australian and Western Australian governments.
Once the listing was approved at the UNESCO meeting in Paris on Friday, Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation vice chairperson Belinda Churnside addressed the forum.
“We have come together, from far away, from the Murujuga lands. This has been a long awaited journey, for our Old People,” she said.
“We are thankful to receive this recognition on a global scale. Thank you everyone.”
Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation chairperson Peter Hicks acknowledge the community for their support and “our Elders past and present”, and thanked the delegates who were present for the decision.
Delegates including those from Zambia, Jamaica, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), St Vincent and the Grenadines, Kazakhstan, Rwanda, Argentina and Qatar praised the strength of the nomination and congratulated the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, many also stressed the importance of ongoing monitoring on the site and vigilance in regards to industrial development and pollution in or near the area.
Delegates also acknowledged the Ngarda-Ngarli, Traditional Owners of the site, for their stewardship of and connection to the land over tens of thousands of years.
The Jamaican representative backed the listing, and added “we strongly encourage heightened engagement with all Traditional Owners” and the placement of “strict” environmental protections on the area.
Bulgaria’s delegate said “the dossier clearly demonstrates the importance of the nomination to protect Aboriginal rock art”.
Lebanon’s delegate noted that “concerns remain regarding the developing and encouraging of industrial development” in the area which “may put at risk” the heritage and ecological values of the site.
The representative of St Vincent and the Grenadines urged “continued atmospheric observations by the state party (Australia)” to protect the site.
The Kazakhstan representative noted the “exceptional” cultural richness of the site, referring to the nomination as “exemplary”.
The Rwanda representative said the Murujuga Cultural Landscape is “remarkable for its diversity, ecology and also the associated knowledge which is transmitted by narratives”.
Federal environment minister Murray Watts said a World Heritage Listing “will better protect the living cultural traditions… (and) will better protect the knowledge and culture of the Ngarda-Ngarli”.
Kenya and many other states moved an amendment calling for the Australian government, in collaboration with Traditional Owners, to:
– Conduct ongoing research and studies of the impact of industrial activity on the petroglyphs and property;
– Ensure the monitoring program and the legal regulatory framework protect the Landscape;
– Incorporate any undeveloped strategic land in the area into the heritage estate; and
– Ensure decommissioning and rehabilitation plans are in place for industrial activity in the area.
The Belgian representative added that the conditions include the state party “ensure compliance with all reporting requirements and the operational guidelines”, which was adopted.
The Australian government was initially given a deadline of December 1, 2026, to report on progress in implementing the recommendations.
A Kenyan representative said the Australian government had asked for more time; an extension to December, 2027. The Indian delegate asked why the Australian government asked for an additional year. The Kenyan representative said the additional time was needed to get a more comprehensive report from the Murujuga monitoring program.
It was then agreed that Australia would provide a “progress report” in December 2026 and a “comprehensive report” in December 2027.
The Murujuga Cultural Landscape was first nominated for inscription on the World Heritage List more than two years ago, in late January 2023.
Representatives of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation were present at the UNESCO meeting in Paris to hear the long-awaited decision.
Murujuga is now only the second site in Australia listed for World Heritage Status for First Nations cultural heritage.
Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation released a statement shortly after the decision.
“In a deeply emotional moment for Traditional Owners and Custodians, the Murujuga Cultural Landscape in North West Australia has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List,” the MAC said.
“Acknowledging its profound cultural and spiritual significance, the World Heritage Committee met for its 47th session in Paris this week and made the decision to inscribe the Murujuga Cultural Landscape this morning.”
In the statement, Mr Hicks said: “We are elated to see the Murujuga Cultural Landscape recognised for its Outstanding Universal Value.”
“MAC represents the collective voice of the Ngarda-Ngarli (Traditional Owners and Custodians) and we are proud that we have been able to deliver on their request for MAC to secure World Heritage Listing for the Murujuga Cultural Landscape,” he said.
“Throughout this Indigenous led process, we have ensured the nomination reflected those aspirations for our Ngurra.
“Further, we have enjoyed the support of and worked in partnership with both the Western Australian and Federal Governments and we thank them for their efforts, respect and for undertaking their roles in this process without undermining Indigenous decision making.
“While today’s inscription is recognition of the hard work that MAC has put in to progressing this nomination over the past two years, more importantly, it is 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 our culture for all future generations.”