Geology & Ancient Coastlines
The coastline surrounding Rockingham has changed dramatically over thousands of years. Around 8,000 years ago, sea levels were significantly lower, allowing Whadjuk Noongar people to walk across Country to Wadjemup (Rottnest Island). Families would travel slowly across the landscape, camping beneath the stars along the way and following ancient pathways that are now hidden beneath the ocean.
As sea levels rose over time, the coastline transformed, separating islands and reshaping the land into the coastal environments seen today. For Noongar people, these changes are not only understood through science and environmental observation, but also through Dreaming stories that explain how ancestral beings shaped the landscape.
Stories of the Wagyl and Yondock are deeply tied to the creation of waterways, islands and landforms throughout the region, embedding cultural knowledge into the geography itself. These stories continue to connect people to Country, carrying memories of changing coastlines, movement across land and the enduring relationship between people, water and sky.
Peppermint Trees
The peppermint trees lining parts of the Rockingham Foreshore are more than just coastal shade trees, they have long held importance for Whadjuk Noongar people as a source of medicine and connection to Country. Their aromatic leaves release a refreshing scent into the air, especially after rain or on warm coastal breezes, creating a sensory reminder of the healing properties found within the landscape.
Traditionally, peppermint leaves were used for their medicinal qualities and formed part of a broader knowledge system centred around the natural environment providing what was needed for wellbeing and survival. Along the trail, you’re invited to slow down, engage your senses and experience the landscape in the same way generations of Noongar people have for thousands of years.
Yellowfin Whiting
Moordiboordip, now known as Rockingham, translates to “place of the yellowfin whiting”, reflecting the long standing connection between the local waterways, marine life and Whadjuk Noongar culture.
Yellowfin whiting were an important seasonal food source traditionally gathered along the coastal shallows around Point Peron and Kwinana Beach. Fish were often cooked fresh over open fires and paired with native herbs and plants gathered from the surrounding landscape.
Within local Dreaming stories, the yellowfin whiting are also connected to the movements of ancestral beings across Country. Yondock, the ancestral crocodile, chased the fish through the waterways while the Wagyl shaped the landforms, wetlands and coastline surrounding Rockingham. These stories remain deeply connected to place, carrying cultural knowledge, history and meaning through generations.
Aboriginal cultural content on this page has been developed with the guidance of local Traditional Owners and custodians. It is shared to provide insight into Country and culture, but does not represent all knowledge or perspectives of Aboriginal people. Trails WA would like to thank In Culture Tours and Hidden deTours for their input in creating this content.
Full day
21.2km
