Rock art gains UNESCO heritage status

UNESCO has given World Heritage status to the Murujuga rock art in Western Australia that has become vulnerable to a gas project nearby.

“This is a momentous day for our old people and our future generations to have Murujuga’s outstanding universal heritage values recognised by the world,” Raelene Cooper, Pilbara traditional owner Raelene Cooper told the ABC.

“Our rock art tells the stories of our people, and maintains our songlines and bloodline connection to our ngurra.”

The Murujuga site in the Pilbara predates Stonehenge in the UK and the Pyramids in Egypt.

It contains more than one million known images, including the oldest depiction of a human face, dating as far back as 50,000 years.

The land was nominated by the Australian government for World Heritage status in 2023.

Major gas and fertiliser plants sit on about 247,105 acres of the land.

“Fertiliser plants are still being built around our sacred sites and polluting gas plants will emit toxic acid on our rock art for another 50 years. The final decision today falls well short of the protections that expert body ICOMOS has recommended,” Ms Cooper said.

“But we are overjoyed to see Murujuga finally World Heritage listed by UNESCO.”