Report: Cultural Heritage Survey of Niiwalarra and Neawangu Islands, East Kimberley, Australia

The Niiwalarra Islands National Park (hereafter ‘NINP’ – formerly known as the ‘Sir Graham Moore Islands’) lies adjacent to the North Kimberley Marine Park (NKMP). The NINP has not been systematically surveyed for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultural heritage, and this Report represents an initiative by the NKMP Woonbalu Joint Management Board to begin a collaborative process between Balanggarra Aboriginal Corporation (BAC) Directors and Traditional Owners, the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) - Parks and Wildlife Division (DPaW), and the University of Western Australia (UWA) to collaboratively locate, record, and manage cultural heritage artefacts, sites and landscapes. The 2023 Niiwalarra and Neawangu cultural heritage survey was undertaken is in accordance with the established management plan strategies for the cultural, natural and tourism values of the NKMP and NINP. There have been only three dedicated Cultural Heritage Surveys in the wider NKMP – one on NINP in 2019/2021 with a focus on World War II and SE Asian sites – one in 2021 along the NKMP coastline, recording 25 sites, and this, the 2023 NINP survey.