Wirin, a sculpture that embodies the spirit and culture of the Noongar people, is seen in Yagan Square in Perth (Image: AAP/Richard Wainwright)

A group of six claimant groups across Perth and south-west Western Australia have been granted a historic land rights settlement. Experts say it's Australia’s first treaty with Indigenous people.

The settlement covers 200,000 square kilometres and formalises six land-use agreements which recognise Noongar people as traditional owners of the land. It’s worth an estimated $1.3 billion and covers nearly 30,000 Noongar people.

University of NSW constitutional lawyer and native title expert George Williams told Crikey the settlement was historic.