DIA Region - Southern

The State’s south is a rich tapestry of Nyoongar history stretching back 40,000 years and was one of the earliest areas to be colonised by Europeans. It now has the densest concentration of non-Aboriginal people in Western Australia, but the sense of the Nyoongar identity and cultural awareness remains strong.

This region includes, Bunbury, Narrogin, Katanning and Albany as major service centres and has a geographic boundary that includes Boddington in its northwest corner, and parts of the southern Wheatbelt.

Significant sites include Mulka's Cave, near Hyden, the 19,000 year old Kalgan Hall site and stone fish traps in Oyster Harbour, in Albany, the Millyaneup Rock Engravings at Scott River and the Stirling Range National Park which is rich in Aboriginal cultural heritage.

There are numerous artifact scatters, evidence of old camp sites, water sources and food gathering places.

The popularity of Nyoongar art from the region has grown and has become more broadly recognised in the art world through the Nyoongar Arts Project. The project aims to achieve arts industry and market recognition of Nyoongar arts practice. It also aims to share the experience of Nyoongar art and culture with the whole community. It has enabled works by local Nyoongar artists to be exhibited throughout Australia and overseas including Malaysia, the Philippines, Italy and the USA.