Pyes Creek Aboriginal Charcoal Panel

Summary: A tall overhang above Pyes Creek, which contains eight Aboriginal charcoal drawings. Some of the figures appear clothed, suggesting this may be a post-contact site.

  • Site type: Cave Painting
  • Number of motifs: 8
  • Motif/s: Contact Motif, Man, Woman
  • Quality: 3/5
  • Condition of site: Weathered
  • View site sketch
  • Year first recorded: 1984
  • Originally Recorded by: Jo McDonald
  • Margrit Koettig, Hornsby Shire Heritage Study, 1996

This shelter with Aboriginal art is above Pyes Creek in Cherrybrook; it’s a very tall overhang with a sloping sandstone floor. Unfortunately recent graffiti can be found across multiple surfaces – although it doesn’t impact the art itself.

1X3A2991 LR Pyes Creek Aboriginal Charcoal Panel
1X3A3006 LR Pyes Creek Aboriginal Charcoal Panel

There are numerous charcoal drawings across wide panel on the back wall of the shelter; some faint white drawings were also observed in previous site visits. The most extensive site recording was done by Jo McDonald in 1984:

There appear to be a possible total of seven anthropomorphs in this shelter, two larger scale figures (70cm high) and five smaller (40cm high). At least two of those figures could be female, and one of these appears to be “dressed”.

Jo McDonald (1984)
Pyes Creek Charcoal Panel Pyes Creek Aboriginal Charcoal Panel

One of the clearer drawings represents a “clothed” figure, which suggests this may be a post-contact site (the nearby New Line Road having been constructed in 1828).

1X3A2994 LR Pyes Creek Aboriginal Charcoal Panel

One of the smaller figures also looks like a human figure.

1X3A3000 LR Pyes Creek Aboriginal Charcoal Panel

Several of the figures are fairly distinct, but partially weathered (mainly due to exfoliation) making it hard to determine what they represent.

1X3A3001 LR Pyes Creek Aboriginal Charcoal Panel
1X3A2998 LR 1 Pyes Creek Aboriginal Charcoal Panel

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