Once upon a time, this small oasis in southwestern Australia was inhabited by the aboriginal Noongar people. They called it Wadjemup or “the place across the water where the spirits are.”

 

Artifacts recovered from the island suggest human settlements as early as 30,000 BC but this tapers off quickly around 7,000 BC, as rising sea levels fully detached the haven from the mainland. Without boats that could make the crossing, the island quickly became uninhabited and remained so for many years.

 

Now located approximately 18 kilometres off the coast, today it is known as Rottnest Island and attracts over half a million visitors each year, who are lured by the island’s unique flora and fauna and crystal clear waters.