WA receives World Heritage and National Heritage Listings in 2011

This year has seen some huge heritage listing successes in Western Australia: in June 2011 Ningaloo Coast joined Shark Bay (listed in 1991) in UNESCO’s World Heritage List, recognising its outstanding value to humanity. The decision was based on aesthetic and natural values as well as the biodiversity the coast supports.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1369

Closer to home, Wilgie Mia, an Aboriginal ochre mine located NW of Cue, was listed on the National Heritage List in February 2011. The mine, which dates back at least centuries, has been consistently used by local Aboriginal people and is the oldest and deepest ochre mine in Australia. The superior quality ochre is still used in traditional ceremonies and art. The cultural importance of the ochre and the story associated with its creation to the Aboriginal people has been recognised in the National Heritage Listing, as well as the outstanding heritage value to the Australian community and nation as a whole.

http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/wilgie-mia/index.html