Western Australia’s third Camping with Custodians campsite, and the first in the Pilbara region, has opened at Peedamulla Station near Onslow.z
Peedamulla is a 220,000 hectare Aboriginal-owned pastoral station which runs from the North West Coastal Highway to the coast.
It is home to a collection of heritage-listed buildings and structures – one of which has been restored as the campground reception office.
The nature-based campground, which has powered and unpowered sites, gas barbecues, hot water showers and flushing toilets, is operated by the Peedamulla Aboriginal community.
Tourism Western Australia’s Camping with Custodians initiative is an Australian-first program, which gives visitors the opportunity to camp on Aboriginal land, and to meet and mix with local Aboriginal people, knowing that the proceeds of their visit will stay in the community.
Imintji Campground and the Jarlarloo Riwi Mimbi Campground, both in the Kimberley region, officially opened in July last year.
Peedamulla Campground, now officially open for business, has 20 campsites and will operate from March to November each year.
A fourth site is currently being developed at Violet Valley in the East Kimberley.
Tourism WA research shows 78 per cent of visitors to WA in 2016-17, expressed an interest in Aboriginal tourism, however, only 21 per cent of people experienced it.
There is a strong opportunity to capitalise on the increasing interest in Aboriginal tourism, and the State Government is working on a number of initiatives, including expanding Camping with Custodians, to help further grow the sector in the State.