Protecting and preserving cultural heritage at Cannington’s Cowie Station

To the northwest of Cannington, in Queensland, Australia, is the South32-owned Cowie Station. Covering more than 94,000 hectares of land, Cowie Station has high cultural heritage and biodiversity value in addition to supporting pastoral activities over its grazing lands. The Traditional Owners of Cowie Station are the Yulluna peoples, Mitakoodi peoples and Kalkadoon peoples, and we respect the deep knowledge and connection the Traditional Owners have with the land.

In FY24, we engaged with the Traditional Owners to conduct surveys which are then used to inform our management and conservation activities on Cowie Station. This was supported by the preparation of a Biodiversity Values Assessment Report, which identified opportunities to promote improved biodiversity and conservation outcomes at Cowie Station, alongside the protection of cultural values.

We also completed the second phase of a Cultural Heritage Values Assessment of Cowie Station to improve our understanding of the areas of cultural significance. This involved a desktop review of cultural heritage values and gap analysis, continued engagement and consultation with Traditional Owner groups, and the development of a predictive model to assist with mapping areas of cultural significance.

The grazing lands of Cowie Station can provide many economic benefits to the local community. In FY24, we commenced an expression of interest process with the local community to lease Cowie Station for a four-year tenure. We received 12 submissions from the community, from which a preferred applicant was selected.

To support the protection and preservation of cultural heritage at Cowie Station, the selection process evaluated each applicant’s proposed farm management plan and their proposed approach to avoiding culturally significant areas. As part of the conditions of receiving access to the land, the pastoral lessee is required to adhere to our Cultural Heritage Protocol to minimise, mitigate and prevent impacts to cultural heritage.

Our work on Cowie Station demonstrates our approach to managing cultural heritage, and working together with the Traditional Owners, communities and other stakeholders and our commitment to try and preserve and protect cultural heritage to the extent possible.