Thousands of items were found by traditional owners while surveying their country as part of Mt Arthur Coal’s Cultural Heritage preservation efforts. 

They, along with BHP representatives, with support from specialist cultural heritage archaeologists RPS, have carefully selected 119 artefacts to display at the Cultural Keeping Place, located at the Mt Arthur Coal site office. 

Notable items displayed include a rare grinding bowl, a ceremonial stone and a stone-head axe.

Mt Arthur Coal Mine manager production coal Tracy Hennig welcomed the opening of the Cultural Keeping Place and recognised its importance to the local community. 

“BHP is committed to building trusted relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups,” she said.

“The opening of the Cultural Keeping Place at Mt Arthur Coal has been a project we have established with traditional owners to ensure we support them in preserving their cultural heritage for future generations to come. 

“We welcome members of the community to visit and view the artefacts, as well as learn more about the cultural heritage of the area.”

The opening of the Cultural Keeping Place at the Mt Arthur Coal site office was conducted as part of BHP’s NAIDOC Week celebrations across Australia, with traditional owners, indigenous employees and representatives from BHP present. 

This comes shortly after BHP launched the Indigenous People’s Strategy and the 2017-2020 Reconciliation Action Plan last month, which recognises BHP's commitment to ensuring indigenous peoples derive significant and sustainable benefit from its operations, and contributes to supporting sustainable long-term economic empowerment, social priorities and cultural wellbeing. 

For more information on BHP’s Indigenous People’s Strategy or Reconciliation Action Plan, visit www.bhpbilliton.com