The federal government has nominated the culturally rich Burrup peninsula and surroundings areas, home to the world's largest collection of rock art, for United Nations' World Heritage listing.
Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek made the announcement today from the peninsula, called Murujuga in local language, and said she was delighted to formally nominate the site for global recognition based on its Aboriginal cultural heritage.
"Murujuga is a natural wonder of the world – a place for all Australians to reflect on years of continuous living culture," she said.
"Our government is strongly committed to working with traditional owners and custodians to properly protect the history of the oldest living civilisation in the world."
Murujuga is in the Pilbara region and has a unique landscape of ancient red rocks, spinifex and blue ocean, dense with history and cultural significance.
There is evidence dating back at least 50,000 years of traditional culture and practices in the area, including millions of a type of rock carving called petroglyphs.
If accepted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Murujuga would be the second site in Australia listed for World Heritage Status for Aboriginal cultural heritage.
Budj Bim, a dormant volcano located in south-western Victoria, was the first Australian site to be included on the heritage list exclusively for its Indigenous cultural heritage values.
The nomination was prepared by the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC) alongside the state government and with support from the federal government and technical experts.
MAC CEO Peter Jeffries said the five traditional owner groups of Murujuga had aspired for the area to be given World Heritage listing for more than two decades.
He said the groups worked to ensure traditional knowledge and lore were at the centre of decision making.
"We see inscription on the World Heritage List as a mechanism to support what we have always done – share knowledge, protect our sacred places and ensure that we are in the best position to respond to the needs of Country."
In a statement, the federal government said a proposed World Heritage boundary of nearly 100,000 hectares across land and sea had been "comprehensively negotiated".
The protection afforded by World Heritage status would ensure that traditional owners manage and protect Murujuga alongside all levels of government.
UNESCO's assessment process will take at least 18 months and the earliest the nomination is likely to be considered by the World Heritage Committee is mid-2024.
Fears for rock art persist
The region's rock art has been the focus of a campaign from breakaway traditional owner group Save Our Songlines (SOS) which was adamant nearby industrial emissions were damaging the art.
The peninsula is also home to massive Woodside operations, Yara Pilbara's fertiliser plant and further development has been approved by government.
The SOS campaign has centred on successfully lobbying Ms Plibersek to appoint an independent reporter, who was conducting an ongoing probe into whether the rock art was at risk.
The government's world heritage announcement came after days of speculation.
Speaking ahead of the official announcement, SOS leader and Mardudhunera woman Raelene Cooper congratulated MAC and said it was an "overwhelming" moment for Aboriginal people with connections to Murujuga.
"Definitely and certainly so excited about it, it's been a long time coming," Ms Cooper said.
She called for a pause on all heavy industry on the Burrup until after the federal probe was completed.
"Outlandish statements like culture and industry can work hand in hand. No, it cannot," she said.
"It never has and never will, given industry and the emissions and the pollution that's spewing out of these developments and projects are affecting and impacting our rock art."
Christine Milne previously worked for the council of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which provides UNESCO with technical evaluations of natural heritage properties.
Ms Milne, who also led the federal Greens, said the continued industrial works on Murujuga could "jeopardise" the approval for Murujuga to receive World Heritage listing.
"UNESCO has to be confident that if an area is listed for its outstanding values to humankind, both natural and cultural, that those values can be protected," Ms Milne said.
"If a government intends to allow production to proceed … there's simply no way that they can protect the outstanding universal values of the petroglyphs from the industrial emissions that will come from those industries.
"You can't have it both ways."
