Sim documented hundreds of Aboriginal rock art sites across Sydney, many of them published in a series of articles in Mankind in the 1960s. A consolidated set of his recordings referred to as the “Sim Collection” are now held by AHIMS.
A significant Aboriginal rock art site in the MacDonald River district, Spirits Cave was extensively documented by Ian Sim. The shelter contains 186 motifs, including multiple deity figures and what was thought to be a Rainbow Serpent.
- Number of motifs: 186
- Year first recorded: 1969
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim
- View site sketch
Two adjoining Aboriginal engraving sites near the Terraborra North Trail, depicting an emu, bird and anthropomorphic figure.
- Number of motifs: 3
- Year first recorded: 1966
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim
- Sim reference: Sim Occasional Papers 7(1) 1966, Plate 1 Fig C (p.5-6)
- McCarthy reference: MELLONG Group 5
- View site sketch
Tesselate Hill (or Tesselated Pavements) has an Aboriginal engraving and many grinding grooves over the large rock surface.
- Number of motifs: 1
- Year first recorded: 1976
- Originally recorded by: Ian Sim
- Sim reference: Sim Collection, Site 1 (Blue Mountains)
This Aboriginal engraving site has multiple figures in the bed of a creek, including two unusual male figures and three eels
- Number of motifs: -3
- Year first recorded: 1966
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim
- Sim reference: Mankind 6(8) 1966 Sheet 1, Fig M
- McCarthy reference: PATONGA Mankind Group 158
An Aboriginal engraving of an enormous (but incomplete) whale and three kangaroos above Tommos Loop in Brisbane Water NP.
- Number of motifs: 6
- Year first recorded: 1899
- Originally recorded by: W.D. Campbell, F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim
- Campbell reference: PATONGA Plate 28 Fig 5
- Sim reference: Sim Collection 3/24
- McCarthy reference: PATONGA Group 181
- View site sketch
Very distinct Aboriginal engraving of a kangaroo above the Tunnel Firetrail.
- Number of motifs: 1
- Year first recorded: 1976
- Originally recorded by: Ian Sim
- Sim reference: Sim Collection 7/22
A series of Aboriginal engraving sites along the cliff between Patonga and Warrah Lookout. Over 30 figures, which include a number of men, animals and bird tracks.
- Number of motifs: 39
- Year first recorded: 1954
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim, Bob Pankhurst
- Sim reference: Mankind Vol 5, No 1 (1954). Figs 5A-5F
- McCarthy reference: PATONGA Mankind Group 53
- View site sketch
An Aboriginal engraving of a single, broad fish on a small rock platform between Warrah Trig Road and Patonga Drive.
- Number of motifs: 1
- Year first recorded: 1976
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim
- Sim reference: Sim Collection 7/2
- McCarthy reference: PATONGA Mankind Group 54 Series 5
Two Aboriginal engravings of fish (and axe grinding grooves) on a rock platform below the Warrah Trig Road
- Number of motifs: 2
- Year first recorded: 1966
- Originally recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim, Bob Pankhurst
- Sim reference: Mankind Vol 6, No 8 (1966). Sheet 1, Fig F
- McCarthy reference: PATONGA Mankind Group 151
- View site sketch
Two adjacent and probably related Aboriginal rock art sites in Narara; a large rock platform has 80+ grinding groobves and two engravings, and nearby is a shelter with white charcoal and red ochre figures.
- Number of motifs: 15
- Year first recorded: 1976
- Originally recorded by: Ian Sim
- Sim reference: Sim Collection 2/48
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