Wardaman country lies within the Victoria River and Upper Daly catchments, west of Katherine in the Northern Territory. The Wardaman Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) was dedicated in 2014. It covers approximately 224,718 hectares of country rich in cultural heritage.
More than 200 rock art sites with around 6,000 individual paintings and 41,000 engravings have been recorded. The ‘Lightning Brothers’ at Yiwarlarlayi on Delamere Station is a well-known Wardaman rock art site. Six art site complexes are considered of national significance and have been registered with the Australian Heritage Commission.
The natural landscape contains culturally significant sites. It includes hills, waterholes, billabongs, springs, water courses, rock outcrops, mineral outcrops, soil, sand, trees and other vegetation. The focus of the IPA and its natural resource management is based on using a cultural approach. Fire is an important cultural management tool which is used to protect its biological and cultural values.
State: NT - Top End region
Administration Organisation
Northern Land Council