Yaburara Heritage Trail

Statement of Significance

The Yaburara Heritage Trail is an outstanding heritage asset for the State in a region undergoing rapid change. The Karratha Hills and Yaburara Heritage Trail have social, scientific, aesthetic, historic and spiritual significance. The trail has social significance because it is an important place for the community to reflect, walk, socialize and exercise. The trail provides wonderful vistas and an opportunity to explore the unique history, geology, geography, archaeology, ecology and culture of the region. The scientific significance of the trail is evident in its archaeology, geology and ecology with the potential for further research. The place has aesthetic significance as a natural setting backdrop to Karratha, and as a landscape of great beauty with views over the surrounding region. It is historically significant because of its association with the development of town of Karratha, and reveals the camaraderie of the early Karratha community.

Physical Description

The trail passes through the cultural landscape of the Karratha Hills, with sweeping views of Karratha, the Burrup Peninsula and across Ngarluma country. The Yaburara Heritage Trail is located on unallocated crown land with areas controlled by Telstra and the Water Corporation. Ngarluma are the Native Title holders of the trail region. The geology includes basalt rocks formed approximately 3.2 billion years ago that are some of the oldest in the world. In contrast the Karratha townsite is built on relatively new material formed as part of the transition from the last ice age some 20,000 years ago. Rock art and other sites identified along the trail indicate that the Karratha Hills were used for habitation on a permanent or seasonal basis by the Yaburara people. Vegetation on the hills is dominated by spinifex with other grasses, shrubs and small trees. The hills are within the Fortescue Botanical District characterized by tree and shrub steppe communities with Eucalyptus trees and Acacia shrubs over Triodia pungens and Triodia wiseana, with mulga occurring in valleys and short-grass plains on alluvial soils. There are six Priority listed species recorded on the Declared Rare and Priority Flora list for the Karratha area (Department of Environment & Conservation, 2009) and the hills also support a variety of fauna. Environmental weeds are constantly introduced to this region from other areas. The trail is in urgent need of upgrading, with the main route presenting risks and dangers to trail users and much signage being in a state of disrepair. The heritage values of the trail are being jeopardized because of poor directional signage and the lack of a clearly marked path in places and by four wheel drive vehicles accessing the trail from the Pilbara Institute carpark entrance, as well as via the rear side of the hills, causing damage to the fragile ecology.

History

T he Yaburara Heritage Trail was established in 1989 as a 3.5km linear walking trail through the Karratha Hills on the edge of Karratha townsite. The trail was designed to offer tourists and locals an insight into the natural and cultural heritage of the region and recreational opportunities. The Dampier Salt Shakers (a legendary team in the endurance sport of wheelbarrow racing) and Rotary Karratha initiated the trail with funding through the Bicentenary Heritage Trails Network. The Shire of Roebourne took over the management of the trail in 1999. The trail was named in honour of the Yaburara people and aimed to bring understanding about Aboriginal history and culture. The Yaburara people occupied the Dampier Archipelago including the Burrup Peninsula at the time of colonization. The massacre on the Burrup in 1868, known as the Flying Foam Massacre, had a devastating impact on the Yaburara people, though was largely unacknowledged until the late 1980s. The trail brought focus to the history of the region and aimed to raise awareness about the importance of valuing heritage. The Karratha hills were once part of Karratha Station. In 2010 the National Trust of Australia (WA) started working with the Shire of Roebourne, to develop management and interpretation planning for the trail.

Archaeology

A significant number of engravings have been documented across the trail outlined in reports by O’Connor and Quartermaine and Paterson and Brady. The heaviest concentrations are located on the three easily visible rocky ridges. Images recorded along the trail were observed to contain both old (heavily patinated) and more recent engravings. A wide range of subject matter (anthropomorphs, zoomorophs, tracks, open geometrics, closed geometrics and abstract designs) was depicted using various techniques such as pecking, abrasion and engraving. There is a wide range of other site types present along the current trail including a quarry, an extensive shell midden located along a dirt track running parallel to Karratha/Dampier Rd, stone tool making areas, grinding patches, and a possible standing stone arrangement.

Integrity/Authenticity

Some

Condition

Fair

Uses

Creation Date

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