Registering a Site of Cultural Significance: Wandoo Gnamma

In this video, Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management (Wheatbelt NRM) rangers, with assistance from DAA (Department of Aboriginal Affairs) learn the step-by-step process of registering a culturally significant site, from collecting field data to submitting the site online to DAA.

The site to be registered is a pan gnamma with a cap stone located in Wandoo National Park in the Shire of York. It was first found by a local school teacher while out trekking in the bush, who reported it to Wheatbelt NRM for further investigation and consultation with the Noongar community.

Benefits of registering a site:

The site becomes protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972, and it then becomes an offence to remove any cultural material. Should there be any ‘development’ in the area, the developer must consult the party that registered the site. Anyone who is not authorised to remove objects from the site or damages the site is committing an offence under the Act.

The site's location, which is held by DAA, is recorded with a GPS to make it easier to find the site again.

If you happen to find a culturally significant site or know of one that exists, you can follow this same process to register it with DAA. For more info on registering a site, visit http://www.daa.wa.gov.au/heritage/site-preservation/report-a-site