O’Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art

Summary: A large Aboriginal rock art shelter near O'Hares Creek in Dhawaral National Park, which has over 50 motifs in charcoal. They include many birds/emus as well as human figures.

  • Site type: Cave Painting
  • Number of sites: 2
  • Number of motifs: 62
  • Motif/s: Echidna, Eel, Emu, Kangaroo, Man, Snake, Woman
  • Quality: 4.5/5
  • Condition of site: Good, Weathered
  • Year first recorded: 1978

A long, sandstone shelter near O’Hares Creek has a long panel with over 50 charcoal drawings; most are in good condition.

IMG 1332 LR O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art

The panel includes a large number of birds. which resemble emus.

IMG 1358 LR O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art
IMG 1362 LR O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art

A few are drawn unusually, in that their neck and heads curve around a natural lip in the rock.

IMG 1356 LR O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art

There are a number of human figures, both male and female (and some indeterminate).

IMG 1370 LR O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art

A long snake or eel stretches from close to the floor of the shelter to the ceiling.

IMG 1344 LR O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art

At the base of the eel/snake is a macropod figure.

IMG 1341 LR O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art

Some of the figures have been damaged by natural weathering, with their lower halves no longer visible.

IMG 1367 LR O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art

There are many more indeterminate figures.

IMG 1360 LR O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art
IMG 1338 LR O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art

An adjacent shelter along the same cliff-line is larger and deeper, and has some remnant charcoal art.

IMG 1371 LR O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art

Almost all the motifs are weathered and indeterminate.

IMG 1381 LR O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art
IMG 1382 LR O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art
IMG 1372 LR O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art
IMG 1372 LR ybk O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art
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IMG 1375 LR ybk O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art
IMG 1376 LR O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art
IMG 1376 LR lbk O'Hares Creek Birds and Men rock art

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