Published: 1 Oct 2024

The Talaroo Indigenous Protected Area covers 31,500ha in NW Queensland, in Gulf Savannah Country, in the Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion. A cattle station for 100 years, the Talaroo IPA is located in the heart of Ewamian Country and is rich in natural and cultural values – it’s a living landscape rich in dreaming stories and centred around the healing and culturally significant Hot Springs.

Ewamian Country is located in Gulf Savannah Country and is part of the Gulf of Carpentaria savannah woodlands, extending over the upper Gilbert and Einasleigh River catchments, and includes the townships of Georgetown, Forsayth, Einasleigh and Mount Surprise covering approx. 29,000 sq km.  Ewamian Country is rich in culture and significant sites from rock art, scar trees, artefacts, occupation sites, bora grounds, stone grinding grooves and ceremonial grounds. 

“Our Strategic Plan informs everything we do”, says Sharon Prior, Ewamian Traditional Owner and General Manager of Ewamian Limited. “It sets the vision and aspirations for Ewamian People to be able to achieve sustainable economic, cultural, community and environmental outcomes for Country and Talaroo is one of our priorities.

Returning to Country

Getting Country back for Ewamian people has been a long journey. Their Native Title Claim was lodged in 1994 and in 2013 Native Title Determination covering an area of some 2.9 million hectares was recognised by the Federal Court. This provided many opportunities for Ewamian People including the successful acquisition of Talaroo Station in 2012. Talaroo was dedicated as an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) in 2023 and, like other IPAs, is now recognised as part of Australia’s National Reserve System.

“Returning to Country is very important for Ewamian people because our people were removed from Country and a lot of culture, knowledge and language was also lost”, says Sharon Prior. “Ewamian people were taken to missions – Cherbourg, Palm Island and Mona Mona - so getting people back on Country connects us back to the land and our language, our sacred sites, and our cultural practices passed down from our Elders.”

Talaroo held priority for IPA status because of its cultural and spiritual importance to the Ewamian people, and also due to its natural values. The Talaroo IPA geothermal springs, which reach to a scorching 68 degrees Celsius, have been formed over millions of years and are known for their healing qualities, and considered to be a rare ecosystem of extreme conservation value. Talaroo Hot Springs are one of only two mound springs in Australia, and the only one not fed by the Great Artesian Basin.

As well as being an IPA, Talaroo is also a gazetted state nature refuge which consists of 2 regional ecosystems that are underrepresented and a further 14 regional ecosystems that are underrepresented in the National Reserve System. The Dedication of Talaroo IPA has increased the level of protection in the bioregion from 3.78% to 4.05%.  

Endangered and rare species which have been discovered on the Talaroo IPA since 2012 includes new species of aquatic snail , cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), an ostracod species (microscopic shelled crustacean), grasshopper (Katydid), tawny coster butterfly, moth and dung beetle. The endangered salt pipewort - a wetland herbaceous plant species, is also found here and is a feature of spring complexes including on Arabana Country in South Australia.

Ewamian Rangers

The Ewamian Ranger program began in 2010 and their work focuses primarily on Talaroo IPA but also on important sites on Ewamian Country and National Parks in the Ewamian estate. Ewamian Rangers implement the Plan of Management by delivering conservation outcomes based on traditional knowledge of country and western science practices. This includes protecting rare and endangered species, fire management, managing weeds, feral animals, cultural heritage surveying and the recording and protection of cultural sites.

“Ewamian People are proud to be back on Country, and our rangers are setting an example for all our community, and hopefully inspiring the next generation”, says Sharon Prior.

Ranger work also involves assisting with the management of Talaroo Hot Springs biodiversity, a highly successful, leading cultural tourism business in the region which opened in June 2021.  Ewamian Limited own and manage Talaroo Hot Springs Pty Ltd and employ managers to run the business. Talaroo Hot Springs consists of daily guided cultural tours, hot springs experiences (soak pools), bike trails and river walks with campground, caravan park and eco-tent accommodation with private bathing.

Ewamian Limited regards the successful operation of the Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program and Indigenous Protected Area Program as essential for the future well-being of Ewamian’s traditional Country.

Bringing the Land Back

The introduction of non-native plant species and cattle on Talaroo over the years has significantly reduced biodiversity and degraded some ecosystems on Talaroo. Ewamian Rangers use fire as the most effective land management tool to restore the land with a balance of traditional and contemporary fire practices.

Since acquiring Talaroo, Ewamian have engaged scientists and many experts to come to Talaroo to conduct surveys and research to provide baseline data to inform land management practices, which culminated in the recording of a number of rare and endangered species, as well as over 200 species of birds registered.

Annual workplans are implemented to manage fire, weeds and feral animals at Talaroo IPA which are the main priorities of the 5 Year Fire, Weeds and Feral Animal Management Plan developed in 2022.

“When Talaroo was first acquired, a 5-year strategy was developed to remove cattle, however we now face the issue of feral cattle from neighbouring properties”, says Sharon Prior. “Managing this issue is ongoing, and rangers work with neighbours to manage boundary fencing and floodgates, and from time-to-time mustering is done by our neighbours to remove cattle.”

Talaroo IPA is a major priority for Ewamian Traditional Owners, providing a base for Ewamian People that facilitates community, cultural and economic opportunities and reconnects people back to Country. A campground on the Einasleigh River, which has been renamed Memorial Park provides facilities such as amenities, a large undercover shed and kitchen facilities is used by Ewamian People to camp and is a place for events such as youth, language and culture camps, men and women’s business occurring at the Talaroo IPA. Talaroo IPA is also a place for Ewamian People to establish Outstations for family groups.

“Owning Talaroo IPA is about self-determination and empowering and supporting our people to return to Country and provides a Hub to build a sustainable and successful future for Ewamian Limited, Talaroo Hot Springs tourism and the community” says Sharon, “It's really important for Ewamian People to realise this vision of getting back on Country to heal.”

Our deep thanks to Sharon Prior and the team at Ewamian Limited for all their help with this article. Find out more about Ewamian Traditional Owners and Talaroo Hot Springs here.