Commandment Rock (Lane Cove)

Summary: A large rock located in the Lane Cove National Park, which has both Aboriginal and European engravings.

  • Site type: Rock engraving
  • Number of motifs: 11
  • Motif/s: Boomerang, Crescent
  • Quality: 2.5/5
  • Condition of site: Weathered
  • View site sketch
  • Year first recorded: 1990

This picnic area in the Lane Cove National Park gets its name from the Bible’s Fifth Commandment, which was carved onto a rock by Thomas Tunbridge in the 1800s after an argument with his parents (when the area was a family farm).

IMG 5288 LR Commandment Rock (Lane Cove)

Partly hidden by shrubs, the engraving site hosts both Aboriginal rock art, and European carvings. The only engraving that is considered to be definitely Aboriginal is a crescent, probably a boomerang.

AWAT2904 LR Commandment Rock (Lane Cove)

A motif of what appears to be a sunburst is thought to also be Aboriginal – which would make it the only known example of its kind in the Sydney area.

AWAT2922 LR Commandment Rock (Lane Cove)

There are also later European carvings, including a bow and arrow, cannon and sword.

  • AWAT2913 LR Commandment Rock (Lane Cove)
  • AWAT2916 LR Commandment Rock (Lane Cove)
  • AWAT2909 LR Commandment Rock (Lane Cove)
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Aboriginal Sites by National Park

Aboriginal Rock Art – Yengo National Park
Yengo National Park was an important spiritual and cultural place for the Darkinjung and Wonnarua People for thousands of years, and 640 Aboriginal cultural sites are recorded in the park and nearby areas.
Aboriginal Rock Art – Lane Cove
Over 40 sites have been recorded within the park; many were located along the river bank and were flooded by the building of the weir in 1938.
Aboriginal Rock Art – Maroota and Marramarra NP
Located to the north-west of Sydney, just south of the Dharug and Yengo National Parks, Maroota has a high concentration of (known) Aboriginal sites. Many more Aboriginal heritage sites are located in the Marramarra National Park. The original inhabitants of the area were the Darug people.