Wallaby Engraving, Topham Trig

Wallaby Engraving, Topham Trig Area

This wallaby engraving is located on one of the many smaller rock platforms that curve around the lower SSE part of Topham Hill.

Baiame and Rainbow Serpent, Christmas Tree Hill, Cottage Point

Lower detail of Baiame

One of two shields

2nd Shield of Baiame

Appears as a woomera

Lower half of rainbow serpent

Initiated Man

Upper half of Rainbow Serpent

Appears as an additional shield

View over engraving platform

A number of significant sites are located on Christmas Tree Hill (Taber Trig). Of particular significance is the presence of Baiame, an initiated man, and the very rare engraving of a rainbow serpent. The rainbow serpent is a very, very rare engraving in the Sydney / Hawkesbury District. The rainbow serpent is present in one other place in Kuringai National Park, at Somersby, Mangrove Mountain, Gunderman and Cattai.

Whale Site - Ellis Trig Cliff Line, Kuringai National Park

Fish Engraving

Fishing Line that connects the fish engraving

Large Whale Engraving

There are several engraving sites located along the western cliff line, watch your step, that joins Ellis Trig. This particular site, perhaps one of at least three recorded by W.D.Campbell in 1899, will not be visible for much longer. This platform is bleached and appears as a white patch of rock.

Cowan Point, Kuringai National Park

Two large fish on the slope of a large rock on the southern side

Large Fish Engraving

Main Engraving Platform

Banded Eel

Example of engraving being covered by moss.

Snake engraving

Fish marker on waterline that points to the track up to the waterline.

The Cowan Point engraving site is surrounded by many middens and collapsed rock platforms. It is only accessible by boat or canoe. Few of the previously recorded engravings are visible. It is understood that a number of stone axes have been found and taken from this place by members of a prestigious University in Sydney, NSW.

Cave Art Site, Smiths Creek, Kuringai National Park

Smiths Creek Cave Art

Smiths Creek Cave Art

This cave art site is located exactly where William Dugald Campbell described it was in 1899. At that time it was described as being directly under the large Baiame Figure on the Cottage Point Road, some six feet above the high water line. Once at this location, you get a sense of the connection between the Baiame engraving, this cave art site and the lower ceremonial site on Mount Murray Anderson to the south. Campbell described other art at this location which unfortunately is too faint to determine or is simply not there anymore.

Cave Art Site, Apple Tree Bay, Bobbin Head, Kuringai National Park

Detail of Kangaroo

Detail of Kangaroo, Shields, and boomerangs

Defaced section that once contained stencils

This cave art site is located exactly as William Dugald Campbell described it in 1899. At that time he recorded that people had defaced the paintings but that the charcoal drawings were in tact. In 2020 his description holds fast. Once again, if you didn't know what you are looking for i.e. the charcoal drawings ...you wouldn't find them. Absolutely beautiful and near Apple Tree Bay.

Sword Clubs Engravings, Shark Rock Trail, Berowra

Emus, Stingrays, Kangaroo Rats, Shark Rock Trail Ridge, Berowra.

This group of 22 figures was recorded by WD Campbell in 1899. Engraved are 3 emus, stingrays, 3 kangaroos, kangaroo rats, boomerang, fish and ovals. A small man in the exact image as that at Girakool near Somersby is also present.

Whale, Goanna, Man and Oval, Shark Rock Ridge Trail, Berowra

This group of four engravings were recorded by WD Campbell in 1899. There is a 34 ft Whale - possible the second largest in Guringai Country, a large belted man inside the whale, a goanna and an oval.

Small Fish, Taffy's Rock Track, Berowra

This small fish engraving is located on the Shark Rock Ridge Trail in Berowra.

Large Whale, Taffy's Rock Trail, Berowra

Previously recorded as a 34 foot whale, it is more likely to be in the range of 24ft - 28 ft range. Also present is a man, barely visible, a goanna (tail and lower part of body in tact) and an oval. The whale originally was recorded in 1960 as being incomplete c. 13 ft The hind part of the body is not well shaped and appears unusual.

Elongated Banded-Oval, Taffy's Rock Trail, Berowra

This elongated banded-oval is located along the Shark Rock Ridge Trail at Berowra.

Little Shark, Taffy's Rock Trail, Berowra

This small shark is located on the Shark Rock Ridge Trail in Berowra.

Sword Clubs engraving, Taffy's Rock Trail, Berowra

This pair of sword clubs were recorded in 1960. They are located on the Shark Rock Ridge Trail in Berowra.

Mundoe Trail, Taffy's Rock, Berowra

Approximately 44 mundoes, pointing in the direction of Refuge Bay at West Head, lead southward over the cliff edge on what is commonly referred to as Taffy's Rock. There are about 14 of these left at present - all still contain "peck marks" that possibly date them within 220 - 250 years. In addition to these is what was recorded as a "basket" in 1960. This basket seems to be an incomplete echidna.

Tree - like Engraving, Waratah Track, West Head

View over scattered and tessellated rock platforms 

Deep tree-like engraving

Located about 600 metres west of the double whale engraving site along the Waratah Trail is an unusual tree-like engraving. Most of this area appears to have been in-filled with sediment leading to a newer layer of vegetation across each of the rock platforms. Absolutely worth the journey.

Large single whale, Waratah Track, West Head

Whale Fin detail

Whale engraving platform

Whale tail detail

This "bora" style whale is fairly difficult to find along the Waratah Track. It's body contains several bands and is weathered quite badly. The majority of this platform is turning "white". It is well hidden on the south side of the Waratah Track with no track in. It is worth the effort to negotiate the difficult climb down and across several rock ledges and a creek to enjoy this significant space. This whale is almost identical to the whale in Point Clare that is also banded and of the same dimensions and another whale on the eastern side of Woy Woy Road in Kariong.

Man and Emu Site, Waratah Track, West Head

Several pairs of axe grooves are located on the edge of the cliff

Man engraving

Large single legged Emu engraving

This set of engravings is part of a larger group of engravings that seem to be infrequently visited due to their location near the edge of a cliff and with no trail in. This site is approximately 500 metres west of the Shield Engraving Site that is  500 metres from the start of the Waratah Track.