Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter

Summary: An impressive shelter with Aboriginal rock art near Christys Gully. There are over 30 motifs including hand stencils and paintings in red ochre, white ochre and charcoal.

  • Site type: Cave Painting, Stencil - Hand
  • Number of motifs: 30
  • Motif/s: Eel, Hand, Indeterminate figure, Kangaroo, Man
  • Quality: 2.5/5
  • Condition of site: Good
  • Year first recorded: 1970
  • Originally Recorded by: Warren Bluff

A deep shelter at the base of a low cliff-line near Christys Gully on the Central Coast has a large number of hand stencils, as well as drawings.

IMG 1306 LR Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter
IMG 1307 LR Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter

The main panel has over twenty hand stencils in red ochre.

IMG 1275 LR Christys Gully Tiny Hands ShelterIMG 1275 LR yre Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter

At the bottom of the panel are what appear to be children’s hands.

IMG 1277 LR Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter
IMG 1277 LR yre Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter

Above these are larger, adult hand stencils.

IMG 1279 LR Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter
IMG 1279 LR yre Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter

Next to the hand stencils are two superimposed figures also in red ochre, which appear to be a man with upraised arms and a kangaroo.

IMG 1282 LR Christys Gully Tiny Hands ShelterIMG 1282 LR yre Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter

Some more abstract figures in red ochre (and the head of what seems to be kangaroo) are next to the kangaroo and man.

IMG 1299 LR Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter
IMG 1299 LR yre Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter

Another kangaroo is drawn in white ochre.

IMG 1284 LR Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter

There are several more figures in red ochre, which includes what may be a boomerang (or it may part of a larger motif that has weathered).

IMG 1285 LR Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter
IMG 1285 LR yre Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter
IMG 1288 LR Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter
IMG 1288 LR yre Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter

An indeterminate motif is drawn in charcoal.

IMG 1286 LR Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter

Two eels are drawn in charcoal.

IMG 1294 LR Christys Gully Tiny Hands Shelter

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