Summary: Largely damaged by graffiti and vandalism, this rock art site in Mosman was first documented in the 1890s. Only a large figure in red ochre is still visible.

Unfortunately this Aboriginal rock art site in Mosman has succumbed to decades of neglect and vandalism since it was first documented by R.H. Mathews in 1895:

On entering the shelter, to the left of the spectator, is a human figure scratched on the cave wall, the scratching not being deep, but sufficient to remain a long time in a spot protected from the weather. Next to this figure is the representation of some nondescript animal over 7 feet long, perhaps intended for a wombat, outlined in black. Farther to the right is part of a shield carved on the back wall of the cave; the lower end has been carried away by the natural wasting of the rock, but the middle is still fairly well defined, and the upper end is traceable. This is interesting, being the only case in which I have found carving within a cave. There are remains of a few other groovings on the right of the shield, but they are too wasted away by the weather for anything to be made of them. There is another but smaller figure what I have said may be intended for a wombat. The next and last object is one of those grotesque human figures so commonly found in caves all over the country, this one being coloured red.

There are about fourteen hands in white stencilling faintly traceable on the wall. extending from the first human figure to the second nondescript animal.

R.H. Mathews (1895)

Today, only the “grotesque human figure” is still visible (defaced by the addition of third “leg”).

Not referenced by Mathews (or later recorders) is the outline – also in red ochre – of a second figure which may depict a man.

1X3A1241 LR Five Fingers Cave in Mosman1X3A1241 LR yre Five Fingers Cave in Mosman

The shelter was known to locals as the Five Fingers Cave, due to the natural shape of the rock.

An adjacent shelter also what appears to be Aboriginal rock art, consisting of indeterminate outlined figures in red ochre.

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Aboriginal Sites by National Park

Red Hands Cave, Glenbrook (Blue Mountains)
The Blue Mountains National Park (and surrounding areas along the Great Western Highway) is thought to have over a thousand indigenous heritage sites, although much of the park has not been comprehensively surveyed. The Aboriginal rock sites in the Blue Mountains include grinding grooves, stensils, drawing and rock carvings.
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.