In the heart of the Weld Range hills in WA’s Midwest lies the Aboriginal site of Wilgie Mia where for thousands of years, extraordinarily bright red ochre has been mined from deep below the surface of the ground. 

As part of the Western Australian Museum’s The Harry Butler lecture series: In the Wild West, University of WA archaeologist Dr Vicky Winton and Wajarri Weld Range Traditional Owner Ansell Egan will talk about their research to trace the transport, trade and use of ochre from Wilgie Mia.

As Mr Egan and Dr Winton will discuss, red ochre has a number of important uses in Aboriginal society, from ceremonial to practical applications.

“However, good quality pigment is rare and in the past, ochre from Wilgie Mia was traded over long distances, perhaps even as far as Queensland,” Dr Winton said.

The research team are investigating the use of pigment at rock-art sites using archaeological and forensic science expertise.

Dr Winton said that the Weld Range may contain the world’s oldest ochre mine.

“We are excavating in rockshelters at Weld Range to gain dating evidence for the use of the Wilgie Mia ochre mine and have taken samples for trace element analysis which will help us track the use of Weld Range pigment”

Dr Vicky Winton is an archaeologist from the University of Western Australia. She has a doctorate in Stone Age archaeology of Europe, followed by post-doctoral research on the Stone Age of Europe and Africa. She currently works for ‘Eureka Archaeological Research and Consulting’ at the University of WA. Ansell Egan is a Wajarri Weld Range Traditional Owner who has an in depth knowledge of the Aboriginal sites of the Weld Range.

The lecture is part of The Harry Butler lecture series: In the Wild West which is proudly presented by the WA Museum in partnership with Chevron Australia. The series showcases the work of Museum scientists, curators and associates in the areas of natural and social sciences.

As part of the WA Museum's Unearthed: Mining Stories from the Mid West exhibition in Geraldton, there are artefacts from the Weld Range on display that show how the ochre was mined.

Lecture: Pigment use from the Ochre Mine of Wilgie Mia
When: Thursday 27 October, 10.00am and 7.00pm  
Where: WA Museum – Geraldton, Museum Place, Batavia Coast Marina, Geraldton.
Bookings essential: www.museum.wa.gov.au/inthewildwest
Cost: By gold coin donation.