Wilgie Mia

Wilgie Mia in the Weld Ranges of Western Australia demonstrates the importance of ochre in Aboriginal society and is the largest and deepest underground Aboriginal ochre mine in Australia. Ochre from Wilgie Mia was traded over a large area and was the most extensive pre contact ochre network recorded in Australia.

In Wajarri Aboriginal people’s tradition, Wilgie Mia was created by an ancestral being, Marlu, the red kangaroo. The different coloured ochres relate to the different parts of Marlu’s body: the red ochre is his blood, the yellow ochre is his liver, and the green ochre his gall. This is the only known tradition to account for the different coloured ochres that occur within the one site.

The stories associated with Wilgie Mia and its creation, remain an important part of the Wajarri people’s tradition. Ochre is still traded for use in traditional ceremonies including important Law ceremonies. Wilgie Mia is a men’s site and access has been controlled through tradition and ritual. Access to the site is restricted.

A description of the site is given for its National Heritage listing at https://www.awe.gov.au/parks-heritage/heritage/places/national/wilgie-mia.