Cheetup Cultural Management Plan

Integrated Cultural Management Plan – Cheetup

This project will develop and a deliver a management plan for the National Heritage listed place Cheetup Cave.

Cheetup meaning 'place of the birds' is a large granite dome with a cave system located in Cape Le Grand National Park about 55 kilometres east of Esperance. The site has been listed on the national register of Heritage Places based on its cultural and archaeological significance. 

• A cave within this massive dome underwent archaeological investigation in the 1970s, and revealed human occupation here extending back 13,000 years before present. During the excavation, the team recovered the remains of a partially cremated infant, wrapped in seaweed and placed in a shallow pit with nodules of red ochre. This infant lived during a different geological era –the Late Pleistocene, some 12,800 years before present.

• Also, during this excavation, seeds of the bayou (zamia, cycad) palm were recovered, in a shallow pit that was lined with balga(Xanthorrhoea, grass tree) leaves. This was a zamia seed roasting pit. The seeds are toxic if eaten straight up, but you can leach out the toxins through soaking in water or roasting. So, the presence of these seeds in a roasting pit in this ancient cave deposit, demonstrates the knowledge of how to remove these toxins and use this plentiful seed, full of carbs and protein, for snacking, or making cakes with, has existed for at least 13,000 years. 

Funded by the Australian Government's Heritage Grants Program, the project is moving through 5 stages involving

1. A cultural survey and assessment with senior Kepa Kurl Wudjari Elders;
2. On-Country workshops;
3. Cultural ranger cadetship in cultural place management within national parks;
4. The development of a community-based cultural plan; and
5. The development of an integrated cultural heritage management plan. 

The plan will detail the aspirations of the Traditional Owners for culturally-appropriate access, management and use of this place. The cultural plan will then go through a formal process of integration with the existing national park management plan (Cape le Grand) through direct partnership with Parks and Wildlife; that will focus on environmental management protocols (e.g. Dieback) combined with visitor management (e.g. trails and signage).

The eventual plan will serve as a key planning tool for the improved conservation, preservation and appropriate access to Cheetup. 

Check out how we are progressing with the project here: