The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) respectfully acknowledges Aboriginal peoples as being the traditional custodians of Western Australia. We acknowledge the enduring connection Aboriginal people continue to share with the land, sea and sky through both their ancestral ties and custodianship to Country. We pay our respect to Elders both past and present, and acknowledge the value brought to our department through the collective contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Western Australia.

Kangaroo Paw (Kurulbrang, Nollamara, Yonga Marra)

The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has embraced the red and green Kangaroo Paw as an icon which is being used in various documents and materials across the department.

Did you know the Kangaroo Paw has 11 species (and 23 sub species) of Anigozanthos and one species of Macropidia (the Black Kangaroo Paw). 

The most common Kangaroo Paw is the red and green Kangaroo Paw which was proclaimed the floral emblem of Western Australia on 9 November 1960 and later incorporated into the State Coat of Arms.
 
The Red and Green Kangaroo Paw are known by Noongar people as Kurulbrang (or Yonga Marra) and the Black Kangaroo Paw is known as Nollamara.  

As well as having attractive and unusual flowers, kangaroo paws have tuberous roots which contain significant levels of stored starch.  In a similar way to orchids and some lily species, the roots of kangaroo paws are eaten by Noongar people.  Prior to large-scale land clearing, it is likely that kangaroo paws were far more abundant in the Yellagonga Regional Park area than they are today.  Root tubers formed an important part of the traditional Noongar diet, and it is possible that the roots of kangaroo paws were gathered in large quantities. (City of Joondalup – Plants and People in Mooro Country, Nyungar plant use in Yellagonga Regional Park).