Wilgie Mia, Weld Range, Madoonga Station, Cue Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Wilgie Mia	- not defined -
Weld Range	Mountain Range
Madoonga Station	- not defined -
Cue Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

This is one of the most important cultural sites in Australia. Some sources state ochre has been mined here for 30 000 or 40 000 years, making it the oldest continuously mined spot in the world. Such claims are difficult to verify, but the mine is no doubt old.

It is located 69 kilometres north of Cue in the Weld Range. Here the local Wajarri Yamatji tribe mined red, yellow and green ochre. The red ochre in particular was valued for its high durability, sheen and 'glow in the dark' properties, and was used for rock painting and other cultural activities. The ochre was traded widely across the western half of Australia.

The ochre was formed when a dreamtime Mondong spirit speared a giant kangaroo which leaped over the Weld Range and landed at Wilgie Mia. In its death throes a cave was formed, and into flowed its blood forming the red ochre, bile from its liver the yellow ochre, and from its gall green ochre. Alternatively it is residual clays from hematite and other iron rich compounds.

The site is protected by four powerful spirits called Mondong. Stone piles marked the boundary to the area through which only the initiated could enter. Rituals were performed to protect the miners. After extraction, the miners would walk out backwards, obliterating their footprints with a leafy bough, to prevent being followed by the Mondong, who would otherwise seek revenge.

Ochre was mined by the stop and pillar method, and wooden scaffolding with wooden platforms were constructed for the higher areas. The ochre was chipped away with stone mauls, then brought to the northern slope of the mine, where rounded stones would break up the ochre. It was then dampened with water and moulded into round balls. Archaeological excavations uncovered tools and equipment used as well as animal bones.

The site represents the largest ochre mine in Australia. It is the only one with a traditional story still accounting for all the ochre colours, and with an extensive cultural story in regards to rituals and ceremonies. The mining techniques are unique to indigenous ochre mining in Australia. Figures vary but the average of the sources is an estimated 40 000 tonnes of ochre has been extracted.

There has been some minor post contact mining at the location, before its significance was appreciated. In 1944 it was mined by J.C. Zadow and J.G. Cassidy. In 1959 Universal Milling Company began mining, before they were stopped by the government for breaking heritage orders. At some point recently a company was allowed to conduct exploratory hematite mining near the site before they were stopped. This vandalism can be seen on the track into the ochre deposit. Likewise no rocks and ochre should be removed from the area unless authorised by the traditional owners, and no attempts made to enter the pit.

Access to the site is actively discouraged. It is the writers opinion the site could cope with limited numbers, as long as safety, cultural and environmental concerns could be addressed. There is a growing awareness of our cultural heritage, and locking these sites away does little to educate the public. It was added to the Australian National Heritage Register only in 2011.

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