The Billagoe (Mount Drysdale) Cultural Landscape has been listed on the NSW State Heritage Register, recognising its long and diverse history.
Heritage Minister James Griffin said he was proud to action the recommendation to list Billagoe Cultural Landscape, which is an outstanding example of a spiritual and cultural landscape.
“Billagoe (Mount Drysdale) has rich cultural significance to the Indigenous people of the Ngemba-Ngiyampaa-Wangaaybuwan-Wayilwan and Baiame, the ancestral creator of landscapes and resources,” Mr Griffin said.
“It’s important that we recognise and preserve the deep history of this site and I am pleased that my first listing as Heritage Minister is one that celebrates NSW’s rich Aboriginal heritage.
“The site forms part of the Baiame cycle of creation stories and is linked to other significant places such as Cobar, Gundabooka National Park, Byrock Rockholes Aboriginal Place and the nationally and state listed Ngunnhu (Brewarrina Fishtraps).”
Billagoe (Mount Drysdale) Cultural Landscape is of state significance for its rare Aboriginal archaeology linked to ceremony, axe manufacturing, trade and social sites.
The site also includes examples of 19th-early 20th century gold mining infrastructure and Chinese market gardens, and a rare surviving example of a government caretaker’s cottage, built in circa 1895.
As a multi-layered cultural landscape with shared history, it also has the ability to demonstrate the technology of water storage in an arid landscape, a theme that links the Indigenous, pastoral, mining and Chinese history.
“The listing of Billagoe (Mount Drysdale) Cultural Landscape celebrates and helps to protect unique and culturally important aspects of the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal history of NSW,” Mr Griffin said.
