19 June 2008

Two icons in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park have been formally recognised for their place in Australia’s cultural and Indigenous heritage.

Low Island and the Low Islets Lightstation have been incorporated into the Commonwealth Heritage List by the Minister for the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Peter Garrett.

This is a first for the Great Barrier Reef because the listing recognises both Indigenous history and Australian cultural history.

Belinda Jago from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority welcomed the heritage recognition for the island and lightstation, located about 15kms north-east of Port Douglas in north Queensland.

“We are delighted these very important and beautiful areas have been recognised for their place in Australia’s heritage,” she said.

“It is even more special because the listing combines their contribution to both Indigenous history and Australian cultural heritage.”

The area is important to Australia’s Indigenous history and is particularly significant for the Kuku Yalanji and Yiriganji people as part of their Dreaming.

Low Islets is considered to have formed part of a united landmass that was separated during the Dreamtime.

The lightstation was also the first constructed in north Queensland, used as a navigation aid to address dangers to ships approaching northern Queensland waters.

This was particularly significant to the ports of Cairns and Port Douglas.

The Commonwealth Heritage List was established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

It recognises the importance of natural, Indigenous and historic heritage places - on Commonwealth lands and waters or under Australian Government control - to Australian cultural heritage.