What is Lake Mungo?
Lake Mungo is a dry lake bed in far western New South Wales, part of the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area. It is famous for the discovery of Mungo Lady and Mungo Man, among the oldest human remains found in Australia.
The Willandra Lakes were once full of water, fed by streams from the east. They dried up around 18,000 years ago. Wind and erosion have exposed ancient sand dunes, called the Walls of China, revealing fossils, tools and fireplaces.
In 1968, geologist Jim Bowler found the remains of Mungo Lady, who had been cremated about 40,000 years ago, one of the oldest known cremations in the world. In 1974, he found Mungo Man, buried with ochre, around 40,000 to 42,000 years ago.
Return to country
Mungo Man's remains were returned to the area in 2017 after decades in a university collection. The Paakantyi, Mutthi Mutthi and Ngiyampaa peoples are the Traditional Owners.
The Willandra Lakes Region was listed as World Heritage in 1981, one of Australia's first World Heritage sites, for both its cultural and natural values.
Mungo National Park offers a self-drive loop of about 70 kilometres, campgrounds and guided tours with Aboriginal Discovery Rangers. The nearest towns are Mildura and Balranald, several hours away on mostly unsealed roads that close after rain.
Did You Know?
Fossilised footprints at Willandra, around 20,000 years old, are among the largest collections of Ice Age footprints in the world.