THE Butterfly Cave at West Wallsend has been declared the state's 91st Aboriginal Place in recognition of the site's cultural, social and historical significance.
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![Environment Minister Robyn Parker being shown the Butterfly Cave by Awabakal women. Environment Minister Robyn Parker being shown the Butterfly Cave by Awabakal women.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-bzDwk8TrKQYKjEefACKcS8/244eecf5-b41f-41be-90cf-37cf74d0b110.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council nominated the cave for recognition in 2012.
Environment Minister Robyn Parker said the declaration of Butterfly Cave marked a long journey for the local Aboriginal community to have the significance of the site formally recognised and protected.
“I am proud to be a part of today’s celebrations that acknowledge the enormous effort sustained by the local Aboriginal community, particularly the Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council, to have Butterfly Cave declared an Aboriginal Place,” Ms Parker said.
![Melinda Brown and grand-daughter Yasmine at Butterfly Cave. Picture: Peter Stoop Melinda Brown and grand-daughter Yasmine at Butterfly Cave. Picture: Peter Stoop](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-bzDwk8TrKQYKjEefACKcS8/8b8fbe43-0e44-4ddd-af85-57f7d4e00cf8.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Ms Parker said that Butterfly Cave was used as a traditional meeting and place of ceremony by Awabakal women.
“It was a place that provided a safe haven for women to hold ceremonies, birth babies, bathe and teach young women the ways of the Awabakal,” Ms Parker said.
![Environment Minister Robyn Parker presenting declaration certificate to Awabakal representative Margaret Harvey. Environment Minister Robyn Parker presenting declaration certificate to Awabakal representative Margaret Harvey.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-bzDwk8TrKQYKjEefACKcS8/e506d7a8-2b55-41c7-a8e1-d9df3daeae81.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Environment Minister Robyn Parker presenting declaration certificate to Awabakal representative Margaret Harvey. Environment Minister Robyn Parker presenting declaration certificate to Awabakal representative Margaret Harvey.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-bzDwk8TrKQYKjEefACKcS8/5739b638-a08a-498c-91e0-d6078744ffab.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)