Ngadju History
50,000 Years Ago
Deep History and Custodianship Ngadju ancestors first occupied and began managing the country surrounding Norseman, known today as the Great Western Woodlands. They developed a sophisticated culture of land management and were known as the "Song & Dance People."
1841
European Contact The first known European to traverse this land, explorer Edward John Eyre, passed through the region. This marks the beginning of colonial history, set against tens of thousands of years of Ngadju People and their presence.
1995
The Native Title Journey Begins The Ngadju People began the long legal process to formally seek recognition of their inherent Native Title rights over their ancestral lands.
2014
Native Title Recognition (First Grant) The Federal Court of Australia formally recognised the Ngadju People's traditional ownership over more than 102,000 square kilometres of their Country.
2015
Ngadju Ranger Program Established The Ngadju Rangers program was established to combine traditional knowledge with modern science to actively care for Country, focusing on biodiversity, fire management, and cultural site protection.
2017
Native Title Recognition (Second Grant) The Federal Court granted exclusive Native Title rights over a significant portion of the land (approx. 41,300 km²), affirming the highest level of native title recognition.
2020
Ngadju Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) The Ngadju Indigenous Protected Area was declared, securing the Ngadju People as the dedicated Traditional Custodians of this globally significant conservation area.
