Commandment Rock (Lane Cove)

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

  • Art type/s: Rock engraving
  • Number of motifs: 11
  • Motif/s: Boomerang, Crescent
  • Quality: 2.5/5
  • Condition of art: 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 – 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 – Berowra Valley
Over a hundred Aboriginal sites have been recorded in the Hornsby region, with many of these in the Berowra Valley National Park and around the suburb of Berowra.
Aboriginal Rock Art in the Greater Blue Mountains
The Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area protects over 3,000 known Aboriginal heritage sites, and many more which are yet to be recorded. This area includes the Blue Mountains National Park, Gardens of Stone, Wollemi National Park and Yengo National Park.