Western Australia has declared its first Aboriginal heritage Protected Area in almost 30 years, placing Darrajayin on Malarngowem Country under the strongest cultural protections available in the state.
The area sits on part of Springvale Station in the East Kimberley.
For Malarngowem Native Title holders, it is a place of burial grounds and sacred storylines linked to the Serpent (Jawaren) and Moon (Garnkiny).
Under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA), a Protected Area is the highest level of protection available.
It makes it unlawful to damage vegetation or disturb the ground within its boundaries.
Kimberley Land Council chief executive, Tyronne Garstone, said the declaration was hard-won after years of advocacy following the damage at Darrajayin.
"The fact that this is the first declared in nearly 30 years underscores both the cultural significance of Darrajayin and the seriousness of the failures that led to its damage," he said.
Kimberley Granite Holdings began exploration works in March 2019 and continued through late 2019 and into 2020, disturbing almost 9,000 tonnes of material without the consent of Malarngowem Native Title holders.
A heritage application was lodged in March 2020 but later declined.
Traditional Owners say sacred sites were harmed and consultation did not occur as it should have.
Despite calls for prosecution under the Aboriginal Heritage Act, the State Government decided in 2021 not to pursue charges.
For many in the community, that decision deepened the hurt.
Malarngowem Aboriginal Corporation director, Russell Gregory, said the impact of the damage remains.
"This place holds burial sites, sacred stories and spiritual connections that should always have been respected," Mr Gregory said.
Declaring the area protected, Mr Gregory said, brings certainty.
"It clearly defines the responsibility to look after it properly and makes sure nothing like that can ever happen again," he said.
In 2021, Malarngowem Native Title holders established Malarngowem Aboriginal Corporation (MAC) and later pursued a compensation claim against the State of Western Australia under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), arguing the exploration licence and the failure to prosecute caused cultural harm.
That claim was settled in the Federal Court in January 2025 — the first of its kind in the Kimberley and only the third in Western Australia.
Darrajayin was formally registered on the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Register in June 2024 before the Governor declared it a Protected Area.
For director Theresa Darby-Polkinghorne, the decision is personal.
"Our ancestors lived on this Country. They walked it, gave birth there, held ceremony there, and many are buried there," she said.
"Now we can tell this story to our children and grandchildren. We can show them how we fought for this protection, so they do not have to keep fighting mining companies in the future."
