Sacred Aboriginal Site Gets WA's First Protection in 30 Years

When Theresa Darby saw the excavated granite slabs scattered across her family's sacred burial ground, she knew generations of stories had been shattered. Between 2019 and 2020, a granite mining company removed nearly 9,000 tonnes of material from Darrajayin in Western Australia's remote East Kimberley, destroying sites central to the Malarngowem people's serpent dreaming and moon dreaming stories.

Darby's brother Tommy Polkinghorne grew up near Springvale Station, where family rules forbade them from disturbing the sacred area. "Yet miners can come and wreck the place, scatter all the remains of our ancestors," Darby said, noting the granite went to kitchen countertops and tables.

The mining company never apologized or cleaned up the mess. No prosecution ever took place, despite traditional owners urging the state government to act.

But the Malarngowem people didn't give up. The Malarngowem Aboriginal Corporation, represented by the Kimberley Land Council, launched a compensation claim against the state in 2021, arguing the government caused cultural harm by granting the exploration license.

After four stressful years of legal battles and internal arguments, they won. In January 2025, the settlement included something unprecedented: Western Australia's first new Aboriginal heritage protected area in more than 30 years.

The Ripple Effect

The 116-square-kilometre protected area sets a powerful precedent for all Indigenous communities. "It's a very big win for Gija people, but it's a big win for the other native title bodies too," said Malarngowem Aboriginal Corporation director Russell Gregory.

The designation provides the highest level of protection under current state law, meaning no mining company can claim ignorance about the area's significance. Higher regulations now guard against future destruction.

Kimberley Land Council chief executive Tyronne Garstone called it a "bittersweet end" to years of fighting for justice. The victory proves that Indigenous communities can secure meaningful protection for their sacred places, even after devastating losses.

For Darby, the protected status means her grandchildren won't have to fight the same battles. "Now we can tell this story to our children and grandchildren," she said, planning to return to country and sing out to her ancestors about what they accomplished.