Eastern Firetrail Whale

Summary: An Aboriginal engraving site in Muogamarra Nature Reserve, which has a single carving of a whale.

  • Site type: Rock engraving
  • Number of motifs: 1
  • Motif/s: Whale
  • Quality: 3.5/5
  • Condition of site: Good
  • View site sketch
  • Year first recorded: 1958
  • Originally Recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, 1st Hornsby Scout Group
  • McCarthy reference: COWAN Mankind Group 59 in Catalogue of Rock Engravings (1983)
  • McCarthy in Mankind Vol. 5 No 5 (1958), Sheet 3, Fig A, p.202-3
  • Aboriginal Rock Carvings in the Broken Bay Area, 1st Hornsby (2nd Section) Boy Scouts No. 2

Note: The Djarra Crossing bushwalk is offered from time to time as a guided walk through the National Parks Discovery Walks Program (bookings essential and a small fee applies). It passes this Aboriginal engraving site, which is one of only two in Muogamarra that is publicly accessible.

This Aboriginal engraving of a whale on a rock along the Eastern Firetrail in the Muogamarra Nature Reserve was first documented by Fred McCarthy in 1958 (but previously recorded by the 1st Hornsby Boy Scouts).

AWAT5440 LR Eastern Firetrail Whale

The whale was described as “whale just over 10 feet long, with an unusually large number of fins” and “swimming in an animated pose”. The grooves and two eyes of the whale are quite distinct.

AWAT5439 LR Eastern Firetrail Whale
AWAT5445 LR Eastern Firetrail Whale
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Aboriginal Sites by National Park

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