Although the quantity and density of surviving Aboriginal rock art sites in the Hornsby Shire is significantly lower than on the Central Coast, there were 598 recorded sites with art in the 2023 Hornsby Shire Aboriginal Heritage Study (compared to 454 in a previous 1996 study). The Hornsby area was inhabited by the Darug and GuriNgai people, and the art is thought to date back to the early Bondaian period (8,000 to 4,000 years ago) up to post-European contact.
| Total Sites | Non-NPWS Land | |
|---|---|---|
|
Art |
598 |
205 |
|
Grinding Grooves |
125 |
56 |
|
Modified Tree |
9 |
7 |
|
Stone Arrangement |
16 |
2 |
The rock art of the Hornsby Shire was originally documented by W.D. Campbell, R.H. Mathews and R.E. Etheridge in the 1880s to early 1900s and later by John Tipper, Fred McCarthy and Ian Sim in the mid-twentieth century. More recently, archaeologist Jo McDonald conducted extensive research on and excavated a number of sites in the Sydney Basin, whch included several in the Hornsby LGA.
The list below includes all of the Aboriginal rock art sites within the Hornsby LGA; or you can view sites located in specific National Parks:Â Â
- Berowra Valley National Park rock art – this park is wholly contained within the Hornsby LGA
- Ku-ring-gai Chase NP rock art – this park is within the Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai and Northern Beaches LGAs
- Marramarra National Park rock art – wholly within Hornsby and has a diverse range of Aboriginal sites.
First recorded by the 1st Hornsby Scout Group, this Aboriginal engraving site depicts a man and his pregnant wife.
- Number of motifs: 2
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Good, Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1958
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, 1st Hornsby Scout Group
- View site sketch
A weathered Aboriginal engraving of two wallabies (or kangaroos) on a sloping rock platform
- Number of motifs: 2
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Good, Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1967
- Originally recorded by: C. Douchkov
A tall overhang above Pyes Creek, which contains eight Aboriginal charcoal drawings. Some of the figures appear clothed, suggesting this may be a post-contact site.
- Number of motifs: 8
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1984
- Originally recorded by: Jo McDonald
- View site sketch
A signposted site next to Quarter Sessions Road has an Aboriginal engraving depicting a pair of leaping kangaroos.
- Number of motifs: 2
- Quality: 2.5/5
- Condition of art: Partially Destroyed, Re-located
- Year first recorded: 1958
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Jo McDonald, 1st Hornsby Scout Group
- View site sketch
An Aboriginal engraving of an emu and a smaller (indeterminate) figure at Refuge Rock in Cherrybrook.
- Number of motifs: 2
- Quality: 3.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 2024
One of the most spectacular Aboriginal rock art sites in Sydney's north, with red ochre and charcoal drawings across two adjacent shelters.
- Number of motifs: 20
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 2021
A small Aboriginal engraving site, with two shields and a small man with bent legs.
- Number of motifs: 3
- Quality: 1.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1960
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, 1st Hornsby Scout Group
- View site sketch
Below the Shark Rock Ridge in dense scrub is an Aboriginal engraving of a "protective deity, holding up a fish with the right hand"
- Number of motifs: 2
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1898
- Originally recorded by: W.D. Campbell, F.D. McCarthy
- View site sketch
An Aboriginal engraving site with an adult and young emu, on a small rock platform just above the Pacific Motorway.
- Number of motifs: -1
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1960
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy
- View site sketch
A ritual or mythological Aboriginal engraving site along Shark Rock Ridge. The six figures include a man with large and distinct mouth.
- Number of motifs: 6
- Quality: 3.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1960
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, 1st Hornsby Scout Group
- View site sketch
Along the Shark Rock Ridge track is an Aboriginal engraving of a whale; the enormous figure is ten metres in length, with a goanna and whale inside the whale.
- Number of motifs: 3
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1898
- Originally recorded by: W.D. Campbell, F.D. McCarthy
- View site sketch
Small panel of Aboriginal rock art in a shallow shelter above Stills Creek near Crosslands. There are two hand stencils and multiple charcoal drawings.
- Number of motifs: 8
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1983
Shelter with a single Aboriginal charcoal drawing in Taffys Gully.
- Number of motifs: 1
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1899
- Originally recorded by: W.D. Campbell
- View site sketch
An Aboriginal engraving site on a low saddle along the track to Taffys Rock, which has two whales and a wallaby.
- Number of motifs: 5
- Quality: 3.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- Year first recorded: 1899
- Originally recorded by: W.D. Campbell
- View site sketch
At least 12 Aboriginal hand stencils in red ochre, in a low overhang in Berowra.
- Number of motifs: 12
- Condition of art: Weathered
- Year first recorded: 1986
- Originally recorded by: Jo McDonald
1 Comment
veronica · June 3, 2025 at 12:14 pm
wow!!! this is so cool!