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
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
A single mundoe (footprint) on a rock ledge in Kariong; it may form part of a series of mundoes
- Number of motifs: 1
- Quality: 1/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1976
- Originally recorded by: Ian Sim
A large, unfinished engraving of a whale on Bulls Hill, with another 10 very weathered figures.
- Number of motifs: 11
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1966
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim
- View site sketch
An Aboriginal art shelter above Peats Ridge Road, which has a charcoal drawing of a kangaroo; above the shelter is a mundoe.
- Number of motifs: 4
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1979
- Originally recorded by: Ian Sim, R Taplin
A rock engraving site in Calga with a Daramulan figure on rocky platform surrounded by swamp.
- Number of motifs: 1
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1979
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy
- View site sketch
Weathered Aboriginal engraving of a kangaroo (and two grinding grooves) above Peats Ridge Road at Calga.
- Number of motifs: 1
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1976
- Originally recorded by: Ian Sim
A small Aboriginal engraving site in Calga, which has a man next to what appears to be a dog, and two emus.
- Number of motifs: 3
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Siltation, Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1979
- Originally recorded by: Ian Sim, Warren Bluff
A small and isolated Aboriginal engraving seat near Peats Ridge Road, which depicts either a man in a canoe or a Daramulan figure,
- Number of motifs: 4
- Quality: 3.5/5
- Condition of art: Good, Siltation
- Year first recorded: 1976
- Originally recorded by: Bob Pankhurst
Aboriginal rock site above Peats Ridge Road, which has four kangaroos and a figure described by Ian Sim as a Rainbow Serpent,
- Number of motifs: 5
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1976
- Originally recorded by: Ian Sim, Bob Pankhurst
- View site sketch (Bob Pankhurst)
A long, low shelter with Aboriginal rock art near Christys Gully which has multiple charcoal and red ochre paintings.
- Number of motifs: 12
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Good, Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1993
- Originally recorded by: Warren Bluff
An isolated shelter in thick scrub near Christys Gully Firetrail, which has a charcoal drawing of a kangaroo.
- Number of motifs: 3
- Quality: 2.5/5
- Condition of art: Good, Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1993
- Originally recorded by: Warren Bluff
An Aboriginal engraving site near Christys Gully on the Central Coast; most of the figures are very weathered.
- Number of motifs: 4
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Good, Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1973
- Originally recorded by: Ian Sim, Warren Bluff
A long cliff-top rock platform above Christys Gully which has multiple grooved channels and two very weathered Aboriginal engravings.
- Number of motifs: 2
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1975