Finding peace on Wadjemup

Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) is known for its quokkas and white sand beaches lapped by turquoise waters. It’s a place where coral reefs teem with marine life, shipwrecks remind visitors of maritime legends, and lazy afternoons stretch into golden sunsets. But beyond its natural beauty, Wadjemup holds a deep cultural and historical significance.

For the Whadjuk Noongar people, the island has always been a place of spiritual connection. The land, sky, and sea are intertwined with ancestral ties and Dreaming stories. According to lore, the island was shaped by a giant serpent, whose movements created its rocky outcrops and surrounding waters. These elements are not only sources of sustenance but also form part of an enduring spiritual bond between past, present, and future generations. Wadjemup is far more than a physical space; it’s a living story.

Yet, Wadjemup’s past also encompasses a time when it served as a place of detention for Aboriginal men and boys under colonial law from 1838 to 1931. The Wadjemup Project, is Aboriginal-led and facilitated by Rottnest Island Authority with collaboration to honour these difficult chapters. During that period, many Aboriginal men and boys were held on the island for traditional practices and acts of resistance, and they contributed to building several of today’s historic structures, including the Quod. Though numbers started small, thousands passed through, and the hardship endured by many remains a solemn part of Wadjemup’s story.

In the decades that followed, Wadjemup transformed into a holiday destination, and for some time its layered history went largely unspoken. Today, that narrative is being brought back into view through truth-telling and consultation. Collaborating with Noongar Elders, the Rottnest Island Authority has introduced cultural programs and interpretive tours that invite visitors to engage with the island’s full heritage and pay their respects and acknowledge the resilience at the heart of Wadjemup’s story.

“A visit to the island is not complete without visiting the Wadjemup Museum,” says Chair of the Rottnest Island Authority Hamish Beck. “Visitors can learn and engage with the island’s history and its spiritual significance for the [Whadjuk] Noongar people.

Visitors can pay their respects at the Wadjemup Aboriginal Burial Ground, or take a guided cultural tour to deepen their understanding of the island’s Aboriginal heritage. The layers of history are evident from the moment you arrive, with the Koora-Yeye-Boordawan-Kalyakoorl sculpture inviting visitors to pause and honour the island’s deep cultural significance. Meaning ‘Past-Present-Future-Forever,’ Beck explains that the sculpture depicts a Noongar warrior and a breaching whale, with a recorded Welcome to Country greeting visitors to the island. Wadjemup’s shores are a tapestry woven with culture, history, and resilience. Its spirit calls us to look beyond the surface, to explore not just its landscapes, but also its stories—those of endurance, reconciliation, and deep cultural meaning. A reminder that genuine connection with people and places comes when we honour what lies below the surface.