West Pymble Kangaroo Engraving

Summary: Very weathered and hard to see, this Aboriginal engraving of a kangaroo was first recorded by Ian Sim and Fred McCarthy.

  • Site type: Rock engraving
  • Number of motifs: 3
  • Motif/s: Kangaroo, Lines
  • Quality: 1/5
  • Condition of site: Weathered
  • View site sketch
  • Year first recorded: 1958
  • Originally Recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim
  • McCarthy reference: GORDON Mankind Group 119 in Catalogue of Rock Engravings (1983)
  • Sim Reference: Mankind 6(2) 1963 Sheet 3 Fig C

Located just outside Lane Cove National Park, this Aboriginal engraving of a kangaroo was first documented by a local resident in 1958, and recorded by Ian Sim in 1960 (and later by Fred McCarthy). It was described as having “smooth faint grooves” in 1960, and is very hard to see.

Kangaroo 5′ long, posed as though about to land on its hind feet while leaping, concave head, rounded face, no eyes, 2 pointed ears, hump over hind quarters, straight belly sloped at a downward angle, truncated forelegs sloped forward, incurved hind legs, truncated straight tail slightly downward in line with body, a static pose.

Fred McCarthy
1X3A9501 LR West Pymble Kangaroo Engraving

Two arcs were also recorded, which are also very weathered and can’t be confirmed with 100% accuracy.

1X3A9478 LR West Pymble Kangaroo Engraving
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