Sams Creek Art Shelters

Summary: One of the most spectacular Aboriginal rock art sites in Sydney's north, with red ochre and charcoal drawings across two adjacent shelters.

  • Art type/s: Cave Painting
  • Number of sites: 2
  • Number of motifs: 20
  • Motif/s: Deity, Goanna, Indeterminate figure, Kangaroo, Man
  • Quality: 4/5
  • Condition of art: Good
  • Year first recorded: 2021

Two adjacent shelters along the same cliff-line in Mt Ku-ring-gai contain some of the most spectacular Aboriginal rock art in Sydney’s north.

AWAT0592 LR Sams Creek Art Shelters
AWAT0606 LR Sams Creek Art Shelters

One of the central figures is drawn in red ochre, and looks similar to a Baiame motif at the Cliff Oval site in Wahroonga.

AWAT0562 LR Sams Creek Art Shelters

Most of the artwork is in charcoal, with a large panel containing multiple motifs.

AWAT0571 LR Sams Creek Art Shelters
AWAT0569 LR Sams Creek Art Shelters
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AWAT0582 LR Sams Creek Art Shelters

More charcoal art is located on smaller across the two shelters.

AWAT0598 LR Sams Creek Art Shelters
AWAT0600 LR Sams Creek Art Shelters
AWAT0594 LR Sams Creek Art Shelters

Unlike many other shelters around Mt Ku-ring-gai, there is no graffiti and no evidence of recent habitation.

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