Aboriginal/Koori Art -Parramatta -Lane Cover Rivers

Aboriginal Carvings The above carvings were discovered by accident. I had been working my way patiently along the rivers edge, which sometimes involved asking permission to walk down the backyards of river-side homes, which is how I found the above carvings in the water-It was low tide and I was fortunate to be there at the right time. On subsequent visits the many carvings have been under water. Many people allowed myself access which greatly helped in finding obscure carvings, where their are no public access points to the river except by boat or by walking down peoples driveways. I am sure there would be hundreds more carvings where homes are the only access to the waters edge. Not all carvings are Aboriginal/Koori.

The two images above show different angles of the same face. I had discovered this while researching the Parramatta River for evidence of other cultures to these shores.

The face appears to be quite old.

They also show two different angles. One view shows less features-while the other shows the full side of the face in profile, including eye, nose and mouth.

New South Wales Aboriginal/Koori Art
From the Blue Mountains Advertiser,
September 19, 1968

The Director of the Mount York Natural History Museum, Mr. Rex Gilroy, is doing research into the early Aboriginal inhabitation of the Blue Mountains. Mr Gilroy asked to be informed of discoveries of any Aboriginal artwork made in the area. The information would go to the Australian Museum, he said, and wherever possible steps would be taken to ensure protection of any finds. Mr Gilroy said conservation of aboriginal art is essential. Every example of aboriginal relics was important in the scientific study of aboriginal life and culture as a whole. As the Aborigines were now either extinct or no longer living a bush life in the State, relics were obviously of great historical value and should be protected as items of local interest.

Recently, while on a spider hunt in thick bush country at Katoomba, (1968) Mr. Gilroy found a boomerang carving, the first carving ever found at Katoomba. He also discovered an Aboriginal camp site at Blackheath complete with cave paintings of boomerangs, snakes and other unusual "patterns". Amongst two nearby mounds which were once campfire sites he unearthed several stone implements. "The site, still being investigated, is thought to be about 700 years old. The paintings themselves show great age.