From 35,000 years ago onwards, Earth was moving into one of the most severe glaciations with temperatures dropping to 6 to 10 degrees below current temperatures. By 22,000 years ago the glaciers were 33thickest with ice sheets covering most continents. Sea levels were at their lowest dropping to approximately 150 to 400 metres below current levels. Old water ecosystems disappeared and arid areas expanded. Australian glaciers did not extend into Western Australia however the countryside suffered an extreme drought of 10,000 years that lasted between 25,000 and 15,000 years ago. Archaeologists suggest that Aboriginal people survived the drought by clustering in refuges where there was permanent water and by visiting other refuges when the climate permitted. In Western Australia refuges were Nyoongar territory, the Pilbara tablelands and the Kimberley. This journey was made from eastern Nyoongar land to the southern Kimberley region following the salt lakes. 

Permissions from Francesca Robertson, Noel Nannup and Jason Barrow for use of material from’ Great Journeys undertaken by Aboriginal People in Western Australia in Ancient times’ (Robertson, Nannup and Barrow, Batchelor Press 2019).  Permission for use of the story provided by Wayne Webb for the Great Journeys book for TLC Map. Do not use without permission.

Robertson, F., Nannup, N. and Barrow J. 'Great Journeys undertaken by Aboriginal people in ancient times in Western Australia', Batchelor Press, 2019.

• Min distance between 2 places: 35.85967693445
• Max distance between 2 places: 2116.088929764
• Average distance between places: 1003.6289799572
• Median distance between places: 1005.664265574
• Standard Deviation of distance between places: 660.77722424639
• Average Min distance between neighbouring places: 122.5488068548
• Median Min distance between neighbouring places: 139.30056524704
• Standard Deviation of Min distance between neighbouring places: 60.668134028989