There are at least 800 recorded Aboriginal rock art sites in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, the largest park in the Sydney metropolitan area and the home of the Darramuragal and Garigal people.
The sites I’ve recorded in Ku-ring-gai Chase are divided into five areas:
- Bobbin Head
- Cottage Point
- Ku-ring-gai Chase North (Mt Ku-ring-gai to Brooklyn)
- Terrey Hills and Duffys Forest
- West Head
Some of the most significant Aboriginal sites in Ku-ring-gai Chase are listed below.
A ritual Aboriginal site near the America Bay Track, which features a large Daramulan (ancestral hero)
- Number of motifs: 31
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1898
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Stanbury and Clegg
- View site sketch
The Basin Aboriginal Site is a significant, signposted rock engraving site along the Basin Track. It has 53 figures, and interpretative signage.
- Number of motifs: 53
- Quality: 5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1964
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim, Stanbury and Clegg
- View site sketch
A short side-track off the Bobbin Head Trail to a signposted Aboriginal engraving site, which has a broad range of motifs.
- Number of motifs: 37
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1894
- Originally recorded by: W.D. Campbell, R.H. Mathews, F.D. McCarthy
- View site sketch
A clearly engraved site, featuring a detailed carving of an echidna and a very long line of mundoes (footprints).
- Number of motifs: 87
- Quality: 4/5
- Year first recorded: 1965
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim, Stanbury and Clegg
- View site sketch
The Elvina Aboriginal Site is easily accessed from the Elvina Track at West Head. This significant site contains over 50 figures, including an enormous six metrs high deity figure.
- Number of motifs: 56
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1954
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy
- View site sketch
The Great Mackerel Shelter (SWA 1) above Great Mackerel Beach was extensively researched in the 1980s and 1990s. It has over 100 motifs including hand stencils in white and red ochre, and paintings.
- Number of motifs: 114
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Year first recorded: 1986
- Originally recorded by: Jo McDonald
A complex Aborigial engraving site across multiple adjacent platforms, which includes a very long line of footprints (mundoes) and a depiction of Baiame.
- Number of motifs: 50
- Quality: 5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1898
- Originally recorded by: W.D. Campbell, F.D. McCarthy
- View site sketch
The Lovers and Whales Aboriginal engraving site near the Salvation Loop Track at West Head features an enormous whale, and a copulating couple
- Number of motifs: 11
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1954
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy
- View site sketch
A ten-foot high Aboriginal engraving of Baiame in a commanding position, at the end of the Mount Murray Anderson ridge.
- Number of motifs: 1
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1898
- Originally recorded by: W.D. Campbell, F.D. McCarthy
- View site sketch
A small site sandwiched between the old Pacific Highway and the railway line and accessed by an unsigned track. The site features three figures and a very long line of mundoes.
- Number of motifs: 74
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1904
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy
- View site sketch
The signposted Resolute Track Aboriginal Engraving Site is a short walk from the Resolute Picnic Area. It has several figures, including a man with a club across his waist.
- Number of motifs: 9
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1965
- Originally recorded by: W.D. Campbell, F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim, Stanbury and Clegg
- View site sketch
- Number of motifs: 24
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1986
- Originally recorded by: Jo McDonald
- View site sketch
An small Aboriginal engraving site depicting a hunter and his two wives celebrating a successful kangaroo hunt.
- Number of motifs: 15
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1941
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Stanbury and Clegg
- View site sketch
The Lyrebird Site in Larool Reserve (Terrey Hills) features an engraving of a lyrebird, as well as many other animal carvings.
- Number of motifs: 31
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1941
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Stanbury and Clegg
- View site sketch
An interesting Aboriginal engraving site on Topham Hill depicting a school of 30 fish; below this site is a weathered carving of a man.
- Number of motifs: 67
- Quality: 3.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1898
- Originally recorded by: W.D. Campbell, F.D. McCarthy
- View site sketch