Friends of Australian Rock Art, Inc. (FARA) works to protect, preserve and promote Australian rock art in general, and in particular the petroglyphs found in the Dampier Archipelago (including Murujuga/Burrup Peninsula) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

FARA acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures, and to the elders, present and past.

Friends of Australian Rock Art, Inc. or FARA, first came together in November 2005 as the Friends of Pilbara Rock Art, convened by the National Trust WA.

In 2006 FARA was established as an incorporated organisation by Hon Robin Chapple and friends with the aim of preserving Australia’s rock art, particularly the ancient petroglyphs on the Burrup Peninsula. These are threatened with destruction by surrounding industrial emissions which turn into acid rain, etching away the patina on the rock surfaces and so eroding their engraved images.

To start with Remi Vignals, one of FARA’s founder members, organised a very successful world-wide awareness campaign for the rock art, called Stand Up for the Burrup. Actions were staged at many World Heritage sites and listed monuments, which were then compared to the overwhelming significance of the petroglyphs on the Burrup, which meet all nine of the criteria required for identification and official recognition by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. (See the section on World Heritage under….?)

However, since 2010 FARA has chosen to engage directly with industry and government, endeavouring to change the legislation which allows uncontrolled expansion of industry and its destructive chemical emissions on the Burrup peninsula. We have also engaged in research which proves irrefutably that the rock art is being increasingly destroyed by these emissions.

Murujuga National Park

The Burrup Peninsula

Download the PDF

MAILING LIST

Subscribe now