First Nations Heritage Grant

This Commonwealth Grant enables Uncle Warren to identify, record and protect Aboriginal sites of heritage value in the Yengo and Wollemi National Parks. National Parks officers have provided assistance identifying sites and making adjustments to update records. In many cases, the GPS coordinates are incorrect due to the nature of historic records or sites have changed over time and need to be reviewed. It is unfortunate that many sites have deteriorated with the environmental impacts of bushfire, flooding and vegetation. Uncle Warren uses AHIMS (Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System) site cards to check the condition of sites and correct the GPS if necessary. He also checks the surrounding area for additional sites that are unrecorded in the system.

Uncle Warren has found many unrecorded sites. Some information comes from bushwalkers via the National Parks officers. Uncle Warren also gathers information from local people who are willing to share the location of sites. Many of these sites are on private land close to Yengo and Wollemi NP. This information is valuable as it adds to pre-colonial cultural knowledge. These sites are also recorded on AHIMS. Both parks cover a large area and planning is very important so that the most likely places for sites are visited.

A volunteer team assist with surveys and photography. James Mitchell helps with ‘mudmaps’ and planning. These maps are designed to guide the team to a particular area using tracks/fire trails and ridgelines. Allan Chawner helps with specialist photography and Carol Carter with research and lighting. Uncle Warren does most of the photography and documentation. Wife, Libby, and daughter, Ashlee, also help with survey work. National Parks officers help in the field when they are able.

The photographs presented in this section are from March through to November 2024. The survey work requires the team to walk through the bush following GPS marks. It is often difficult terrain. Often Uncle Warren will check on sites previously recorded to check on the condition. It is important culturally to make this connection. He has visited many known sites as part of the survey work, for example the site at Finchley has been visited several times.

Aboriginal sites include caves/overhangs, sandstone engravings, grooving sites and scarred trees. The locality is very general in order to protect the site. The captions here give some information about the site. More detailed information is contained in the AHIMS records.
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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