Home / Environment / Mithaka Country: A Living Link to Ancient Australia
Mithaka Country: A Living Link to Ancient Australia
5 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Ancient quarry site used for millennia added to national heritage list.
- Includes two of Australia's oldest known intact houses.
- Spans a transcontinental trade route connecting northern and southern Australia.
A significant portion of Australia's ancient past has been recognized with the national heritage listing of the Mithaka cultural landscape. This vast area in southwestern Queensland served as a crucial hub for trade, ceremony, and production for millennia, connecting coastal and desert regions.
The landscape boasts one of the oldest quarries globally, utilized by a non-agricultural society to produce millions of grindstones. It also features the two most ancient intact dwellings discovered in Australia, providing a tangible link to the daily lives of the Mithaka people and other tribes who traversed the area.
This historic site was a nexus on a transcontinental trading route stretching from the Gulf of Carpentaria to the Flinders Ranges. Its recognition underscores its importance in understanding early Australian societies, manufacturing, and village life, ensuring its protection for future generations.
