Milyerra Trail Figures with Headdresses

Summary: Three unusual motifs at an Aboriginal engraving site above the Milyerra Trail. They include a large turtle and two figures with head-dresses.

  • Site type: Rock engraving
  • Number of motifs: 3
  • Motif/s: Daramulan, Deity, Man, Turtle
  • Quality: 3.5/5
  • Condition of site: Good
  • View site sketch
  • Year first recorded: 1969
  • Originally Recorded by: Bob Pankhurst

On a rock platform above the Milyerra Trail are several unusual Aboriginal engravings. One of two figures with a headress is a Daramulan-like figure, which is very lightly engraved (or very weathered) and hard to see.

IMG 5469 LR enhanced Milyerra Trail Figures with Headdresses

The figure has a very small and pointed head (almost like that of a kangaroo), from which the long head-dress emerges.

IMG 5474 LR Milyerra Trail Figures with Headdresses

About eight metres to the west on a slightly lower rock platform is what could be a large turtle – it’s a very unusual figure.

IMG 5454 LR Milyerra Trail Figures with Headdresses

The turtle has been re-grooved along slightly different lines; you can see in the photos below the grooves and separate line of peck-marks.

IMG 5458 LR Milyerra Trail Figures with Headdresses
awat7957 lr Milyerra Trail Figures with Headdresses
awat7958 lr Milyerra Trail Figures with Headdresses

About 40m south-east is a man or warrior with a club across his waist. He also has a head-dress (photo: Sydney Rock Art).

milyerra figure6 Milyerra Trail Figures with Headdresses
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