Summary: A cerermonial or ritual Aboriginal engraving site below the Waratah Track, with a decorated man and woman, whale and many fish.

An interesting site on a spur below the Waratah Track, this Aboriginal engraving site was described as a ritual or ceremonial site.

“The exclusive use of fish in close proximity to Coal and Candle Creek, a deep salt-water stream, the association of the man in ceremonial decoration, indicates a ritual significance for this group; it might be connected with fishing magic to ensure a good catch or with increase ceremonies; on the other hand the man and woman may be legendary figures not associated with other figures or associated with them in a myth”

Fred McCarthy

The lifesize man and woman are very distinctive; the man is decorated with parallel and arched lines “in the pattern painted on the body during ceremonies”. Within the woman are some several large, natural punctures.

On an adjoining rock further along the spur is a whale, and above the whale one of many fish (a “breamlike fish”).

Inside the whale is a figure, which was described as a fish.

To the north of the whale are there more large fish (one of this covered by vegetation) and a shark ray or wobbegong shark (also covered).

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Aboriginal Sites by National Park

Red Hands Cave, Glenbrook (Blue Mountains)
The Blue Mountains National Park (and surrounding areas along the Great Western Highway) is thought to have over a thousand indigenous heritage sites, although much of the park has not been comprehensively surveyed. The Aboriginal rock sites in the Blue Mountains include grinding grooves, stensils, drawing and rock carvings.
Over 40 sites have been recorded within the park; many were located along the river bank and were flooded by the building of the weir in 1938.
The Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area protects over 3,000 known Aboriginal heritage sites, and many more which are yet to be recorded. This area includes the Blue Mountains National Park, Gardens of Stone, Wollemi National Park and Yengo National Park.