Summary: The Wullumba Rock Art site is one of two publicly accessible Aboriginal art sites in the Chillagoe area. The art is on the base of a high limestone outcrop.

The Wullumba Rock Art Site is one of two Aboriginal rock art sites in the Chillagoe are that is publicly accessible. The art is protected by a boardwalk and fencing, although vandalism has occurred in the past. Interpretative signage provides very basic information on the site:

Rock art was continually over-painted. the last painting of this site was probably about 100 years ago. Natural weathering has caused deterioration. Animals and visitors have caused further damage by touching the images and raising dust.

Aboriginal rock paintings are not “art”. They were a way of communicating ideas – although the meaning of these images has since been lost. Ochres and clays were mixed with water to create red and white colours.

AWAT8524 LR Wullumba Rock Art Site (Chillagoe)

The high limestone outcrop contains a number of motifs, in red and white.

There are also a number of narrow but deep vertical grooves in the rock.

AWAT8530 LR Wullumba Rock Art Site (Chillagoe)

Indirect dating methods and radiocarbon analysis applied to the rock paintings suggest that most Chillagoe rock paintings are relatively young – less than 3500 years old.

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Aboriginal Sites by National Park

Over a hundred Aboriginal sites have been recorded in the Hornsby region, with many of these in the Berowra Valley National Park and around the suburb of Berowra.
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.