'Go work for a living': What racist vandals scrawled over 60,000-year-old Aboriginal rock art

  • Tourists carve 'go work for a living' above 60,000-year-old rock art
  • Politician claims defacing the ancient carvings are a 'hobby' for some
  • Markers and spray paint used in past to desecrate the sacred spaces

Aboriginal rock art, which researchers last year declared could be up to 60,000 years old, has been vandilised by tourists.

The rock is located in Western Australia's Burrop Peninsula, which last year became part of the newly formed heritage-listed Murujunga National Park and contains an estimated two million ancient rock carvings.

According to a tourist guide, the vandals carved 'go and work for a living' above the ancient carving.

Cruel message carved: Tourists carved 'go and work for a living' into what is believed to be a 60,000 year old piece of rock art in Western Australia's Pilbara region

Cruel message carved: Tourists carved 'go and work for a living' into what is believed to be a 60,000 year old piece of rock art in Western Australia's Pilbara region

Clinton Walker, the tourist guide who discovered the defaced rock art, is also a member of the Ngarluma people.

Robin Chapple, a Greens politician serving in Western Australia's Legislative Council, was shocked to hear about the fresh vandalism - but not surprised.

He noted that marker pens and spray paint have been used to deface the art in the past.

'It seems to be a hobby or fun for some people to go around literally desecrating what is the world's most important Mona Lisa,' he told the ABC.

Ancient carvings: Stone etching of a large bodies marsupial in Deep George on Western Australia's Burrup Peninsula - not far from where the offensive message was recently carved

Ancient carvings: Stone etching of a large bodies marsupial in Deep George on Western Australia's Burrup Peninsula - not far from where the offensive message was recently carved

Older than Australia: Bird tracks etched on another rock in the Burrup Peninsula

Older than Australia: Bird tracks etched on another rock in the Burrup Peninsula

Conservation attempts: There were hopes that including the Burrup Peninsula in a new national park would help conserve the estimated two million rock carvings

Conservation attempts: There were hopes that including the Burrup Peninsula in a new national park would help conserve the estimated two million rock carvings

In 2012, archaeologist Ken Mulvaney criticised the Western Australian Government for failing to protect the priceless rock art in the Kimberley, the Pilbara and the Northern Territory.

Dr Mulvaney claimed that university research bodies and mining companies were the only people protecting the ancient carvings.

'There is inadequate protection and policing of heritage by the state,' he said.

'They don't even have adequate staff at the moment'.

Defaced: Greens MP Robin Chapple provides an example of disrespectful graffiti in regions which contain significant amounts of Aboriginal rock art

Defaced: Greens MP Robin Chapple provides an example of disrespectful graffiti in regions which contain significant amounts of Aboriginal rock art

Region of cultural significance: This map shows the location of the Burrup Peninsula, a region of significant cultural heritage - particularly for indigenous Australians

Region of cultural significance: This map shows the location of the Burrup Peninsula, a region of significant cultural heritage - particularly for indigenous Australians

In January last year, the Western Australian State Government announced the Burrup Peninsula's inclusion in the state's 100th national park.

The region is home to the world's largest collection of rock art, with an estimated two million carvings.

Gaining national heritage listing in 2007, there were hopes it would help conserve the Burrup Peninsula.