First Nations Heritage Grant

This Commonwealth Grant supports Uncle Warren in identifying, documenting, and recording Aboriginal heritage sites throughout Yengo and Wollemi National Parks. Working closely with National Parks officers, he reviews previously recorded sites, updates heritage information and improves the accuracy of existing records. Many older site records contain inaccurate GPS coordinates due to the limitations of earlier recording methods, while other sites have changed over time and require reassessment. Unfortunately, many have also deteriorated through the impacts of bushfire, flooding, erosion and vegetation growth.

Using the Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS) site cards, Uncle Warren checks the condition of previously recorded sites, corrects GPS locations where necessary and records any changes. Whenever possible, he also surveys the surrounding area for additional Aboriginal sites that have not been recorded in the system.

To date, Uncle Warren has identified approximately twenty-two previously unrecorded sites. Information about potential sites often comes from bushwalkers through National Parks officers or from members of the local community. Some of these sites are located on private land adjoining Yengo and Wollemi National Parks. Recording these places is important because they contribute to a broader understanding of the pre-colonial cultural landscape and add valuable knowledge to the existing heritage record. Once documented, these sites are entered into AHIMS. Given the vast size of both national parks, careful planning is essential to ensure that survey work focuses on the areas most likely to contain First Nations cultural heritage.

The survey work is supported by a dedicated volunteer team. James Mitchell prepares detailed “mud maps” and assists with planning. These maps guide the team through networks of tracks, fire trails and ridgelines to reach often remote survey locations. Allan Chawner provides specialist photographic expertise, while Carol Carter undertakes historical research and assists with lighting during photography. Uncle Warren completes most of the photography, cultural interpretation and documentation. His wife, Libby, and daughters Kerri-Ann and Ashlee, also assist with field surveys, and National Parks officers provide valuable support in the field when they can.

Field surveys involve walking through rugged bushland using GPS navigation to locate heritage sites, often across difficult terrain. Many survey days are spent revisiting previously recorded sites to assess their current condition and update records. For Uncle Warren, this work is also an important cultural responsibility, maintaining a continuing connection with Country while ensuring these places are properly documented for future generations.

This website includes a digital book featuring many of the most significant Aboriginal heritage sites recorded during the survey. Smaller sites – such as isolated hand stencils or individual grinding grooves – are generally not included in the publication, but they are recorded within AHIMS. Although modest in scale, these places are important evidence of the presence and ongoing connection of First Nations people to Country and provide valuable information for the future management of the National Parks.

Below is an essay from the digital book that explores the nature of Aboriginal rock art and the challenges involved in preserving this remarkable cultural heritage.

1a

Cave site in Yengo NP, hand stencils, boomerang stencils, and charcoal figures.

1b

Cave site in Yengo NP, hand stencils, boomerang stencils, and charcoal figures.

1c

Cave site in Yengo NP, hand stencils, boomerang stencils, and charcoal figures.

2a destrest

Cave site in Yengo NP, drawings in charcoal of kangaroo and wombat.

2b

Cave site in Yengo NP, drawings in charcoal of kangaroo and wombat.

2c

Cave site, Yengo NP, hand stencils and drawings of birds in white ochre

2d three same day

Cave site, Yengo NP, hand stencils and drawings of birds in white ochre

3a

Cave site, Yengo NP, double line drawings of charcoal figures with white ochre outlines, maybe a dingo? Also 3 grinding grooves.

3b

4a

4c

Cave site, Yengo NP, very old engraving of an eel, figure, wallaby and kangaroos.

5a

Cave site, Paynes Crossing, black and white hand stencils, drawings in white ochre and rub marks

5b

Cave site, Paynes Crossing, black and white hand stencils, drawings in white ochre and rub marks.

5c

Cave site, Paynes Crossing, black and white hand stencils, drawings in white ochre and rub marks.

6a

Cave site, Paynes Crossing, hand stencils

6b

Cave site, Paynes Crossing, hand stencils

6c

Engraving of a figure and emu tracks, Yengo NP

7a

Engraving of a figure and emu tracks, Yengo NP

7b

Engraving of a figure and emu tracks, Yengo NP

7c

Engraving of a figure and emu tracks, Yengo NP

8a

Cave site Yengo NP, a site found by bushwalkers, this is a unrecorded site, hand stencils and figures, the photo uses a program called D-stretch to enhance the faint images

8b destretched

Cave site Yengo NP, a site found by bushwalkers, this is a unrecorded site, hand stencils and figures, the photo uses a program called D-stretch to enhance the faint images

8c destretched

Cave site Yengo NP, a site found by bushwalkers, this is a unrecorded site, hand stencils and figures, the photo uses a program called D-stretch to enhance the faint images

9a

Cave site Yengo NP, unrecorded site found by bushwalkers, linework in charcoal

9b destretched

Cave site Yengo NP, unrecorded site found by bushwalkers, linework in charcoal

10a

Engraving site, Yengo NP, site revisit, 2 kangaroos and 1 koala

10b

Engraving site, Yengo NP, site revisit, 2 kangaroos and 1 koala

10c

Engraving site, Yengo NP, site revisit, 2 kangaroos and 1 koala

11a

Cave site near Finchleys, Yengo NP, kangaroo with white outline, figure with big white eyes, small figure, shield and spear stencil. There are also stone flakes at the bottom of the cave.

11b

Cave site near Finchleys, Yengo NP, kangaroo with white outline, figure with big white eyes, small figure, shield and spear stencil. There are also stone flakes at the bottom of the cave.

11cjpg

Cave site near Finchleys, Yengo NP, kangaroo with white outline, figure with big white eyes, small figure, shield and spear stencil. There are also stone flakes at the bottom of the cave.

11d

Cave site near Finchleys, Yengo NP, kangaroo with white outline, figure with big white eyes, small figure, shield and spear stencil. There are also stone flakes at the bottom of the cave.

12a

Cave site at the Wattagans, hand stencils, figures, kangaroo drawings

12b.

Cave site at the Wattagans, hand stencils, figures, kangaroo drawings

12c

Cave site at the Wattagans, hand stencils, figures, kangaroo drawings

12d

Cave site at the Wattagans, hand stencils, figures, kangaroo drawings

13a

Cave site, Murrays Run, charcoal figures and outlined animals

13b destretched

Cave site, Murrays Run, charcoal figures and outlined animals

13c

Cave site, Murrays Run, charcoal figures and outlined animals

13d

Cave site, Murrays Run, charcoal figures and outlined animals

14a destretched

Cave site, Yengo NP, many hand stencils and figures

14b

Cave site, Yengo NP, many hand stencils and figures

14c

Cave site, Yengo NP, many hand stencils and figures