Site of the Emus

Summary: The Site of the Emus (or Bird Cave) in McPherson State Forest, a shelter with Aboriginal rock art, gets its name from three emus drawn in red ochre.

  • Site type: Cave Painting
  • Number of motifs: 15
  • Motif/s: Emu, Indeterminate figure, Kangaroo, Lines
  • Quality: 4.5/5
  • Condition of site: Good
  • Year first recorded: 1978
  • Originally Recorded by: Jo McDonald

Situated high on a steep ridge, there are sweeping views over Stockyard Gully from this shelter with Aboriginal rock art.

AWAT9355 LR Site of the Emus

The most prominent figures – from which the shelter gets it name (it’s also referred to as “Bird Cave”) – are three emus.

AWAT9328 LR Site of the EmusAWAT9328 LR lds Site of the Emus
AWAT9330 LR Site of the Emus
AWAT9330 LR yrd Site of the Emus
AWAT9331 LR Site of the Emus
AWAT9331 LR yrd Site of the Emus
AWAT9332 LR Site of the Emus
AWAT9332 LR yrd Site of the Emus

Below the emus, near the base of the wall, are a few more figures in red ochre.

AWAT9333 LR yrd Site of the Emus

On the same panel (above and overlapping the last emu) is an enormous kangaroo drawn in red ochre, and another kangaroo frawn in white.

AWAT9348 LR yrd Site of the EmusAWAT9348 LR yye Site of the Emus

To the right of the emu panel is an indeterminate figure, drawn in charcoal and red ochre.

AWAT9354 LR Site of the EmusAWAT9354 LR yrd Site of the Emus

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