Summary: A complex Aborigial engraving site across multiple adjacent platforms, which includes a very long line of footprints (mundoes) and a depiction of Baiame.

A large number of engravings are located along a series of wide, long platforms at the head of a creek. Accessed via the Long Trail, the site was referred to as the “Roach Trig Station” by McCarthy.

IMG 5015 LR Long Trail East (Roach Trig)

The main site has a depiction of what might be Baiame with upstretched arms; beneath him is a smaller version, whose arms are also stretching upwards.

Baiame at Long Trail / Roach Trig Station site

Nearby is another man, this time with outstretched arms,

Man at Long Trail East / Roach Trig Station site

A long line of mundoes (17) leads away from the man above, across the rock platform.

Above the man and at the end of the line of mundies are four ovals.

Nearby is what was described as a young seal (a rare subject).

Seal at Long Trail East / Roach Trig Station site

Next to the seal are a number of axe grinding grooves.

Axe grinding grooves at Long Trail East / Roach Trig Station site

At the top of this rock platform, and previously covered by vegetation (which may explain why it was not documented by Campbell or McCarthy) is a figure most likely depicting a dingo.

Dingo at Long Trail East / Roach Trig Station site

An adjacent rock platfiorm contains a school of breamlike fish .

School of fish at Long Trail East / Roach Trig Station site

Some engravings are more weathered than others: McCarthy describes most of the figures as weathered, while the man and six fish are “clearly cut”. Figure 2 (below) was thought to represent a mythological incident in which the man and shield were re-grooved for a ritual. It’s worth noting that the site descriptions by Campbell and McCarthy differ somewhat, and neither of them recoded some of the motifs (like the dingo).

Engraving Long Trail East Long Trail East (Roach Trig)
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2 Comments

Robert Lowman · April 2, 2022 at 7:57 pm

I visited the eastern site some months ago. A fellow bushwalker suggested the “dingo” might potentially be a “thylacine” instead. He noted dingo’s don’t generally have stripes as thylacine’s did. They would have been around in the years the engravings were originally created. Just an interesting thought.

    oliverd :-) · April 4, 2022 at 9:02 pm

    Intreesting… that would make sense given the stripes. Thanks.

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Aboriginal Sites by National Park

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