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 sites are protected in the national parks of the Central Coast, but a surprisingly large number of recorded sites are on rural properties and industrial estates.
Many of the sites were documented by W. D. Campbell in 1899, and later by Fred McCarthy and Ian Sim. Â The Central Coast Original Recordings page lists all the publicly documented Campbell, Sim and McCarthy sites.
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 SF
Aboriginal engraving of a fish or an eel, above a waterfall at Kariong Scout Camp.
- Number of motifs: 1
- Quality: 1/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
- Year first recorded: 2021
A lesser-known site featuring seven shields, located below the "Seven Rabbits" (Woy Woy) site
- Number of motifs: 10
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1966
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim
- View site sketch
A tall shelter in Shakeys Forest Reserve in Mangrove Mountain, which has multiple panels of Aboriginal drawings in charcoal.
- Number of motifs: 25
- Quality: 3.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1988
- Originally recorded by: Warren Bluff
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.
- Number of motifs: 15
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1978
- Originally recorded by: Jo McDonald
A shelter with spectacular Aboriginal drawings in the McPherson State Forest (Warre Warren Aboriginal Area). Figures include a shark, snakes, macropods and an echidna in charcoal, red ochre and white ochre.
- Number of motifs: 39
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1993
- Originally recorded by: Warren Bluff
An Aboriginal engraving of a death adder on an industrial property in Somersby.
- Number of motifs: 1
- Quality: 3.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1946
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim
- View site sketch
A large number of axe grinding grooves, in and around the creek above Somersby Falls.
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1974
- Originally recorded by: Ian Sim
An Aboriginal engraving site on an industrial property in Somersby, which has four figures including a man and kangaroo.
- Number of motifs: 4
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1946
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim
- View site sketch
This sacred cave depicts generations of markings and drawings, with 857 motifs (mainly handprints) – the largest assemblage of motifs of any currently known sites.
- Number of motifs: 857
- Quality: 5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1978
- Originally recorded by: Jo McDonald
A small Aboriginal rock art shelter, which contains a few areas painted in red ochre.
- Number of motifs: 3
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1978
- Originally recorded by: Val Attenbrow
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.
- Number of motifs: 5
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1978
- Originally recorded by: Val Attenbrow
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.
- Number of motifs: 126
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1988
- Originally recorded by: Jo McDonald
An rock platform above Tommos Loop, which has Aboriginal rock engravings of a man,canoe and emu.
- Number of motifs: 3
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1899
- Originally recorded by: W.D. Campbell, Bob Pankhurst
- View site sketch [partial]
This Aboriginal engraving site has multiple figures in the bed of a creek, including two unusual male figures and three eels
- Number of motifs: -3
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1966
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim
An Aboriginal engraving of an enormous (but incomplete) whale and three kangaroos above Tommos Loop in Brisbane Water NP.
- Number of motifs: 6
- Quality: 2.5/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1899
- Originally recorded by: W.D. Campbell, F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim
- View site sketch