Elvina Bay Track

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of the great emu in the sky

Great Emu In The Sky

The Elvina Bay Track aboriginal rock engraving site is very extensive and has many interesting and beautiful carvings. This area is located in the Kuringai National Park along with many other aboriginal sites. The Elvina Bay Track engraving site is probably best known for a design known as the Great Emu In The Sky, an image that mirrors a pattern of dark nebulous expanses that cross the Milky Way. The head of the Great Emu In The Sky is known to astronomers as The Coalsack nebula. Each year this engraving aligns with the Great Emu In The Sky indicating that it is time to collect the emu eggs.

Just next to the Great Emu In The Sky is this very large and unusual seated Daramulum figure that seems to be holding some kind of object. (Alias: Daramulan, Dharramulluan, Dharramaalan, Dhurramoolun) This design is similar to an engraving on the Benowie Track that shows Daramulum with a child or baby sitting on his lap whereas this figure could easily accommodate a full grown person in that position. The outline drawing shows the design more clearly.

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of Daramulum

Daramulum

Elvina Bay Track - an outline of an engraving of Daramulum

Daramulum Outline

This is a composite of 625 separate images showing the Great Emu In The Sky and Daramulum together.

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of the great emu in the sky with daramulum

Emu With Daramulum

A second emu appears to be standing in a square as this false colour image shows.

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of an emu in a square

Emu In A Square

This very large engraving represents a whale. This image is a composite of 642 separate photographs.

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of a whale

Whale

At the entrance to the site are these very nicely engraved wallabies.

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of two wallabies

Wallabies

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of a large wallaby

Large Wallaby

Various shields, fish, animals and figures can be found scattered around this site.

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of a shield

Shield

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of two fish

Two Fish

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of a shield

Shield

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of a fish and shield

Fish And Shield

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of a fish

Fish

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of a bird

Bird

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of a decorated shield

Decorated Shield

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of two shields

Two Shields

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of two decorated shields

Two Decorated Shields

This is a very eroded decorated eel.

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of a decorated eel

Eel

This image shows a very eroded engraving of a large rotund male figure.

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of a figure

Figure

This small shape is thought to be a platypus. This is a false colour image.

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of a platypus

Platypus

These two images show the advantage of using a remote flash when photographing rock engravings. The shot on the left is a standard exposure and the same shot on the right was taken using a remote flash.

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of a boomerang

Boomerang

This is another pair of images taken using the remote flash. The top image is a standard exposure and the same image below was taken using the remote flash.

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of a fish

Fish

This image shows a small and very eroded Daramulum figure.

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of Daramulum

Daramulum

This is another composite made using the remote flash unit.

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of a figure

Figure Composite

This is a very nice goanna carving.

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of a goanna

Goanna

This engraving shows a brush tail possum hiding under a bush.

Elvina Bay Track - an engraving of a brush tail possum

Possum

4 thoughts on “Elvina Bay Track

  1. Fede

    Hi. Last Saturday I visited the Elvina engravings because I have to do a research about the place. Now I’m looking for books or papers where I could get info about the place such as what was the place used for (ceremony); academic or historical records about the place; related places or objects; interpretation; how the aboriginal people interacted with the site; and many different aspects about the place.
    I would like to know If you know about books or readings where I could find info!

    Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Sydney Rock Art Post author

      Sorry but we cannot help much with the type of information that you are looking for. You could try searching for information about West Head, the Guringai people & etc.

      Reply
    1. Sydney Rock Art Post author

      These engravings could be many hundreds or thousands of years old. The carvings are very difficult to date because they could be re-grooved periodically (during ceremonies, etc.). Engravings that might look quite new may be very old and very worn engravings might be quite young but haven’t been refreshed.

      Reply

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