McPherson State Forest covers an area of about around 6,500 hectares near Kulnura to the north-west of Sydney. Within the forest is the Warre Warren Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Area, an area of national significance with a number of sites and art.
The Site of the Emus (or Bird Cave) in McPherson State Forest, a shelter with Aboriginal rock art, gets its name from three emus drawn in red ochre.
A low but long shelter with Aboriginal rock art along Ellem Gully, which has over 100 motifs in charcoal and red ochre. The figures include many kangaroos and some hand stencils.
Faint charcoal art in a low shelter above Ellem Gully, in McPherson State Forest
Inside one of a series of three sandstone shelters along a low cliff-line are some Aboriginal charcoal drawings. The site also has six axe grinding grooves.
A small Aboriginal rock art shelter, which contains a few areas painted in red ochre.
One of the most spectacular shelters in the McPherson State Forest, the Basalt Hill Shelter (also known as the “Big Cave”) contains over 100 Aboriginal rock art motifs.
The Corroborree Cave has five men drawn in red ochre, depicted as if dancing in a corroborree.
The Boomerang Headed Men Cave has a number of kangaroos and men drawn in white and red ochre. Many of the Aboriginal rock art motifs are quite weathered.
A partly off-track bushwalk in the McPherson State Forest, following the Slip Up Trail and visiting some shelters with Aboriginal rock art.
A charcoal drawing of a jumping kangaroo, in a large and open shelter in the McPherson State Forest