Waratah Track Grooved Waterhole

Summary: Two potholes with a deep channel around them and two axe grinding grooves along a steep ledge. A short distance away are engravings of a shield and fish (not found).

  • Site type: Axe Grinding Groove (AGG), Rock engraving, Water Hole
  • Number of motifs: 2
  • Motif/s: Fish, Shield
  • Quality: 3/5
  • Condition of site: Good
  • View site sketch
  • Year first recorded: 1899
  • Originally Recorded by: F.D. McCarthy
  • McCarthy reference: BROKEN BAY Group 115/116 & Mankind Group 48 S4 in Catalogue of Rock Engravings (1983)
  • McCarthy in Mankind Vol 5, No. 1 (1954). Fig 8D. p.21-23

On the opposite side of the road to the Waratah Track – part of the Arden Trig Station group of Aboriginal engravings – are multiple potholes and two carvings along a ledge. Although only one of these potholes was documented by McCarthy, there are two which both have a deep, grooved channel around them.

AWAT2799 LR Waratah Track Grooved Waterhole
AWAT2806 LR Waratah Track Grooved Waterhole

The two pothole are linked by a horizontal channel.

AWAT2812 LR Waratah Track Grooved Waterhole
AWAT2814 LR Waratah Track Grooved Waterhole

Along the same, steep ledge are two axe grinding grooves.

AWAT2795 LR Waratah Track Grooved Waterhole
AWAT2794 LR Waratah Track Grooved Waterhole

To the north of the pothole, McCarthy documented a small fish and a “shield lacking the crossed line decoration” – these are currently covered by fallen trees and vegetation, and could not be found.

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