Inspecting a Malleefowl nest on Mawonga country. Photo Lawrence Clarke.
It has numerous small caves, rock shelters and art sites that are a physical reminder to Ngiyampaa people of how their relatives and ancestors lived and travelled.
In 2009, the Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan Traditional Owners, through their representative organisation the Winangakirri Aboriginal Corporation, had Mawonga purchased on their behalf with funds from both the Commonwealth Government National Reserve System program and the Indigenous Land Corporation.
A handback ceremony was held in 2015 and a management plan was developed, allowing Mawonga to be eligible to apply for and eventually be declared an IPA in 2021.
The Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan Traditional Owners have worked on ecological monitoring and cultural heritage surveys, upgrading the infrastructure, harvesting goats to reduce their impact and training programs to support community members in managing country.