The Daleys Point Aboriginal Site features many aquatic designs. Orca, a basking shark, a stingray and some other fish. There is also a kangaroo and some very nice grinding grooves. One of the whales has two large figures wearing headdresses carved over it. A third figure, probably female, is engraved nearby. About a month after the First Fleet arrived in Sydney Cove, Governor Arthur Phillip led a small party that landed just below this engraving site. Some people have suggested that these carvings may be describing that early contact.
This is a false colour image of an engraving of a 7 meter long Orca. Some lines can be seen emanating from the rostrum. These lines are fairly common on whale engravings but not other species. These may be sound lines, representing whale song.
Orca
This engraving shows a 6 metre long basking shark. This animal is easily identified by the five large gill slits.
Basking Shark
Overlaid on the tail area of the basking shark is this design depicting a stingray.
Stingray
This is a false colour image of a large fish.
Large Fish
For the first few hours that we were at this site the sky was overcast. Then the afternoon sun popped out of the clouds and these excellent fish carvings appeared.
Fish
Fish
Below the engraving platform are caves that house some aboriginal charcoal drawings.
Cave
Caves – Wide View
This shows a small water hole with surrounding axe grinding grooves.
Grinding Grooves
Grinding Grooves – Wide View
Fish
Spike Milligan describes a carving of Arthur Phillip’s rowboat at Daley’s Point , could this be the carving you describe as i’m interested in seeing this one – Thanks MW
We have not found any carvings of a rowboat at this site, but the front end of one of the large whales does resemble the prow of a boat.
Ran up there today and even though i’m fairly experienced with Aboriginal sites, i was unable to find any of these sites at Daleys point??
The best time of day to find rock engravings is either early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the sun is low in the sky. If the sun is high or the sky is overcast and the light is very diffused it can be nearly impossible to find faint engravings. The Daleys Point engraving site is well marked with a NPWS information sign.
Given your expertise, I wonder which tribe or language group would have made these engravings?
Grateful if you could respond by email
This kind of information might best be sought from a local indigenous group. We do not have that knowledge.
Thanks for your cultural concern. I have now established through the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council that they are the language group that claims authority in the Bouddi area.
I have asked for further interpretation of the rock carving, but haven’t heard back yet
Hi I live in Empire bay, in Pomona rd, I’m study Permaculture and are very interested in finding out more knowledge of the indigenous history of our area, can anyone recommend any books, or where I could seek further information, thank you. Aaron
Lots of books online Mr. Magoo! Google is your best friend in this case!
The engravings at Daleys Point are traditional subjects, not the European arrival in the area…I wonder about the possibility of regrooving the engravings before they disappear..The Rock Shelter below is interesting with lots of cockle and mud welk shells and ash from countless fires…it now has a metal grid protecting the site…great views from the site…sad to think they are gone.