Brisbane Water formed part of the traditional lands of the Guringai (or Kuring-gai) Aboriginal people, who fished in the rivers and lived on the surrounding land. There is debate as to whether the traditional lands of Darkinyung or Darkinung people extended to the coast (not to be confused with the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council, who are the self-appointed caretakers of the Central Coast area and do not claim to be the traditional owners of this area). There are many significant Aboriginal site around Brisbane Water, including Bulgandry, Daleys Point and Staples Lookout. This area has one of the highest densities of Aboriginal heritage sites around Sydney.

An intriguing Aboriginal engraving site near Alison's Cascades, which has two birds, a shark and a long line of mundoes.
An Aboriginal rock engraving of a (possibly dead) emu along the bed of a creek near Kariong.
An Aboriginal rock art site in Kariong which has contact motifs (two sailing ships) and a single mundoe.
A small Aboriginal rock engraving site near the Bambara Trail, which includes a stingray and a fish
A small Aboriginal engraving site which is in the grounds of the Broken Bay Sport and Recreation Centre. The site has eleven figures, including a man, bi-sexual figure, kangaroo and fish.
Aboriginal rock engravings near Patonga spread over four rock platforms, which are separated by thick scrub. The most unusual of these engraved figures is a "Bulbous Headed Man".
A significant site near Bulgandry in Kariong: "The whole group is particularly well drawn, and presents one of the best samples of this native art that the Writer has met with"
The Bulgandry Art Site Aboriginal Place is one of the most-visited engraving sites around Sydney. It's named after the prominent Bulgandry Man engraving.
Partly covered by silt, an Aboriginal engraving of a kangaroo is on a small outcrop with a view of Mount Wondabyne.
A single mundoe (footprint) on a rock ledge in Kariong; it may form part of a series of mundoes
A large, unfinished engraving of a whale on Bulls Hill, with another 10 very weathered figures.
A long, low shelter with Aboriginal rock art near Christys Gully which has multiple charcoal and red ochre paintings.
An isolated shelter in thick scrub near Christys Gully Firetrail, which has a charcoal drawing of a kangaroo.
An Aboriginal engraving site near Christys Gully on the Central Coast; most of the figures are very weathered.
A long cliff-top rock platform above Christys Gully which has multiple grooved channels and two very weathered Aboriginal engravings.