Ancient Lands

UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park occupies nearly 20,000 square kilometres in the Alligator Rivers region of the Northern Territory. Since 2022, nearly all the park has been owned by the Binij/Mungguy people. It is jointly managed by these traditional owners and Parks Australia on a leasing arrangement.  

The stamp photograph of Anbangbang Billabong, Kakadu is by Geoff Whalan. 

The 1,672-square-kilometre Grampians National Park (Gariwerd) lies in mountainous country in western Victoria. The park contains 90 per cent of Aboriginal rock art in the state and is managed by Parks Australia in consultation with the traditional owners, represented by the Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation. Prior to colonisation, the area was called Gariwerd in the Western Kulin language of the Jarwadjali and Djab Wurrung people.

The stamp photograph of “The Balconies”, is by Ingo Oeland/Alamy Stock Photo. 

Mutawintji National Park lies in the far west of New South Wales, 130 kilometres north-west of Broken Hill. It occupies 689 square kilometres and in 1998 was the first National Park in New South Wales to be handed back to traditional owners, the Malyangapa, Wilyakali, Wanyuparlku and Pantjikali people, who are represented by the Mutawintji Local Aboriginal Land Council. The park is leased to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and jointly managed with majority Aboriginal representation.  

The stamp photograph of Mutawintji Gorge is by Michael Rawle.