Rock Art Research

The recent escalation of bouldering and bolting in the sandstone ranges of western Victoria, Australia, has caused noticeable damage to Aboriginal rock art sites in the Grampians National Park and surrounding Crown Land Reserves (Greater Gariwerd). This has forced Parks Victoria, as an initial measure, to reassess their management of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and extend the number of SPAs to cover all rock art sites within the Grampians National Park, resulting in the closure of eight well-known rock climbing faces. The closure, along with a Parks Victoria review of other climbing areas, caused an outcry by the Victorian climbing fraternity. Reviews of the reasons for the closure are presented while adding a caution to all cultural site managers to regularly and carefully monitor their cultural sites for an increase in damaging activities resulting from climbers.