There are thousands of Aboriginal engraving and shelter art sites recorded around Gosford and across the Central Coast region. These rock art sites include animals, birds, sea creatures, bird tracks, human footsteps, male and female figures, hunting weapons and ancestral beings. Many of the sites were documented by W. D. Campbell in 1899, and later by Fred McCarthy and Ian Sim. Many sites are protected in the national parks of the Central Coast, but a large number of recorded sites are on rural properties and industrial estates.
An article by Coast Magazine (Ancient Art Galleries of the Central Coast – download PDF or read online) covers some of the significant rock art sites of the Central Coast area.
Aboriginal rock art sites by park: Bouddi NP / Brisbane Water / McPherson SF / Popran NP / Strickland SFA
At the end of the 248 Track is a large rock outcrop, which has some faint engravings and what may be a stone arrangement.
- Number of motifs: 2
- Quality: 1/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1992
- Originally recorded by: Warren Bluff
Along the 248 Track is a long rock shelf protected by a series of timber logs; it’s hard to make out the individual engravings due to natural tesselation.
- Number of motifs: 3
- Quality: 1/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1976
An intriguing Aboriginal engraving site near Alison's Cascades, which has two birds, a shark and a long line of mundoes.
- Number of motifs: 26
- Quality: 3.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1971
- Originally recorded by: Ian Sim
A small Aboriginal rock engraving site near the Bambara Trail, which includes a stingray and a fish
- Number of motifs: 3
- Quality: 1/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1999
- Originally recorded by: Warren Bluff
A very long but shallow overhang with a series of alcoves, the Banksia Shelter in the McPherson State Forest includes two large Aboriginal paintings in red ochre.
- Number of motifs: 3
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1988
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.
- Number of motifs: 125
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1979
- Originally recorded by: R Taplin
The Boat Cave (or Many Drawings Cave) has a large panel with male figures, a lizard and kangaroos.
- Number of motifs: 20
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1982
- Originally recorded by: Val Attenbrow
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.
- Number of motifs: 11
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1979
- Originally recorded by: R Taplin
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"
- Number of motifs: 60
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1898
- Originally recorded by: W.D. Campbell, F.D. McCarthy
- View site sketch
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.
- Number of motifs: 28
- Quality: 5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1966
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim
- View site sketch (main site)
Partly covered by silt, an Aboriginal engraving of a kangaroo is on a small outcrop with a view of Mount Wondabyne.
- Number of motifs: 1
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1966
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim
- View site sketch
An interesting Aboriginal engraving site in the bed of Coorumbine Creek, first documented by Ian Sim in 1969 and depicting a whale and three men.
- Number of motifs: 6
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1969
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim
- View site sketch
The Corroborree Cave has five men drawn in red ochre, depicted as if dancing in a corroborree.
- Number of motifs: 5
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1979
- Originally recorded by: R Taplin
Two eels at a small Aboriginal engraving site which was first documented by Ian Sim in 1969. Nearby are some deep axe grinding gooves.
- Number of motifs: 5
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1969
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim
- View site sketch
The Daleys Point Aboriginal Site is signposted site with pver 20 rock engavings (incuding five shales), cave paintings and axe grinding grooves.
- Number of motifs: 28
- Quality: 3.5/5
- Condition of art: Good, Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1943
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy