Managing a contested cultural heritage place on K’gari (Fraser Island), Queensland, Australia

Abstract

Contestation of culturally significant places is a phenomenon that is regularly encountered in heritage management. Takky Wooroo (Indian Head), on World Heritage–inscribed K’gari (Fraser Island), is no exception. The research presented in this paper uses a multi-vocal methodology situated within the constructivist paradigm of “Indigenous archaeologies” to evaluate contested evidence for cultural and historical significance at Takky Wooroo. Much of the contestation relates to whether or not Takky Wooroo was the site of a massacre in the nineteenth century and if so, how this impacts on the management of the place. Evidence for the massacre is investigated using oral history from Traditional Owners as well as archival sources. Perceptions of the headland held by Traditional Owners, tourists and other stakeholders are assessed as the basis for a review of management strategies for this contested place. Themes of memorialisation and association are explored and, in the absence of tangible “scientific” evidence to link Takky Wooroo with its past uses, the inclusion of intangible understandings, such as Indigenous Knowledge, are shown to be paramount in assigning significance. In particular, we argue that memorialisation, association and the archaeology of absence allow the historically documented massacre event to be linked with Takky Wooroo in a manner that is not possible through material culture assessment alone.