WESTERN TASMANIA ABORIGINAL CULTURAL LANDSCAPE

Dotted along Tasmania’s western wind-swept coastline are the remains of numerous hut depressions found in Aboriginal shell middens. These are the remnants of an unusual, specialised and more sedentary Aboriginal way of life that began almost 2000 years ago and continued up to the 1830s, based on the hunting of seals and land mammals, and the gathering of shellfish.

Sites within the Western Tasmania Aboriginal bones found in the midden, it is believed that Cultural Landscape include some of the best the elephant seals were a major component of evidence of the evolution of Aboriginal people Aboriginal people’s diet in the area. in the area, showing how groups moved Analysis of the faunal remains from the seasonally up and down the west coast of West Point midden indicates that mainly young Tasmania and their subsequent economic calves were killed; indicating that between development around the products of hunting. 1900 and 1300 years ago Aboriginal people In particular, the apparent absence of fish inhabited the area in summer when young bones, the presence of marine and terrestrial seals were being weaned. animal bones in some middens, when taken in Evidence of similar patterns of movement are conjunction with the hut sites, are an important also found in southwest Victoria, however the expression of this specialised way of life. diversity of hut depressions in the Western Archaeological work from the 1960s through Tasmania Aboriginal Cultural Landscape are to the 1980s found evidence of early villages, greater, making it of outstanding national established approximately 1900 years ago heritage value to all of Australia. next to an elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) colony. Based upon the large number of seal

environment.gov.au HER79.0213 What is the National What does National Heritage Heritage List? listing mean?

The National Heritage List recognises, National Heritage listing provides recognition celebrates and protects our most of the area’s outstanding heritage value important natural, Indigenous and historic to the Australian nation. Approval must be heritage places. obtained under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Places on the National Heritage List reflect (EPBC Act) before any action takes place that our nation’s development, from its ancient could have a significant impact on the site’s origins and its first people to its architectural national heritage values. masterpieces, the spirit and ingenuity of our community and our unique, living landscapes.

The National Heritage List was established to list places of outstanding heritage significance to Australia. It includes natural, historic and Indigenous places that are of outstanding national heritage. Places on the list include Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Bondi Beach, the Great Barrier Reef, the Sydney Opera House, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Fremantle Prison, Port Arthur, Witjara-Dalhousie Springs, the Ningaloo Coast, the west Kimberley and the Stirling Range.

The Western Tasmania Aboriginal Cultural Landscape is the 98th place to be included on the National Heritage List.

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