The traditional lands of the Wudjari and Njunga people, both of the Noongar nation, occupy most of the Shire of Esperance, including the area around Esperance. The eastern tribes of the Wudjari, the Njunga, are seen as a separate people for cultural reasons, having adopted different cultural practices. The Young River, in the west of the shire, forms the boundary between the two groups and Esperance and Neridup are on the traditional land of the latter.[4][5][6]
The Kau Rock Nature Reserve, which also stretches into neighbouring Wittenoom Hills and Mount Ney, was gazetted on 2 August 1974, has a size of 158.14 square kilometres (61.06 sq mi) and is located in the Mallee bioregion.[7]
