Join Hazel Walgar, a respected senior cultural knowledge holder and Traditional Custodian of Nyinggulu (Ningaloo), and Peter Veth, a globally recognised Archaeologist from UWA, for an insightful discussion about this significant coastal place. Discover the unique cultural and environmental values held within Nyinggulu's landscape.

Date: Saturday, 28 June 2025

Time: Doors open; 10:45am talk starts;11.00am - 12.00pm

Duration: 1 - Hour

Please note: Spaces are limited, so booking ahead is essential to secure your place.

Cape Range Image: Credit Tourism Western Australia

About the talk:

Heritage Futures at Ningaloo

The Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area is renowned for its abundant marine life, cave fauna and unique landscapes. However, the deep history of Aboriginal use and management of this desert coast is less well known yet is also of global significance. Because Cape Range is the nearest point of Australia to the continental shelf it provides a unique window into the lifeways of Aboriginal people and their connection to the sea for over 40,000 years. Even when sea levels were 130 m lower than today, the coast would never have been more than 10-12 km distant. The limestone ranges contain numerous caves and shelters which were systematically used by people for habitation, making artefacts and art, and even ornaments to wear. They provide excellent preservation for the shell artefacts people made and the animals that were part of their diet. Aboriginal groups from the north-west of Australia are unique for their shell bead-making traditions with the oldest bead necklace recovered from Cape Range, and dating to over 36,000 years ago. Our collaborative work has recorded more shell beads, artefacts and even the burnt remains of an adult Thylacine and pup! These and other insights can help in the protection, management and increased public understanding of the cultural values of this World Heritage estate. Co-presented with Baiyungu Traditional Owners Hazel Walgar and Ethan Couyoo, the area is overseen by the Nyinggulu Coast Joint Management Body, a co-management arrangement between Baiyungu, West Thalanyji, and Yinigurdira people and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).

About our speakers:

Hazel Walgar, Traditional Owner, Senior Cultural Knowledge Holder, Cultural
Director & Advisor, Linguist

Baiyungu Dreaming Director, Hazel Walgar is a Senior Cultural Knowledge Holder and Traditional Custodian of Nyinggulu (Ningaloo Coast). Baiyungu people were determined to be Native Title holders in 2019. From then on Hazel has worked as a Cultural Advisor to the State Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) to help deliver the Ningaloo Coast Joint Management Arrangement. Nyinggulu is a place that holds unique cultural and environmental values, recognised under the UNESCO Ningaloo
Coast World Heritage Listing. Hazel is also Cultural Advisor to the Desert People Project, an archaeological exploration of the Nyinggulu Coast and Pilbara Desert. The project furthers the understanding and deep time connections of country and the long-term occupation of Aboriginal people.

Professor Peter Veth FAHA MAACAI, ARC Laureate Fellow - Desert People (2023-2028)

Peter Veth is a leading archaeologist who has worked throughout North West of Australia. Working closely with Traditional Custodians he has led teams on the Canning Stock Route, Barrow Island, through the Pilbara and Kimberley. He is currently running the Desert People Project which spans sections of the Ningaloo and Pilbara coast, the Hamersley Ranges and out to the Little and Great Sandy Deserts. He is a Professor of Archaeology at UWA and an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow. He first worked at Ningaloo as a University student, excavating with the WA Maritime Museum on the American China trader Rapid which was lost in 1811.