Harbour Partners - The Landscape of Blue Mountains Rock-Art: The reported: 'Eagle's Reach'

Eagle's Reach is a well protected north-facing site, open on one side instead of the usual three.
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Bird-headed human-animal composites superimpose the large charcoal macropod at Eagle's Reach.
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A second boomerang stencilled at Eagle's Reach had two very pointed ends.
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In May 2003 we recorded the most spectacular site of all. At a very remote and rugged location a well protected shelter (subsequently named 'Eagle's Reach') was found to contain 203 drawings and stencils in at least 11 superimposed layers. The site, first discovered by bushwalkers in late 1995, is in pristine condition, with no graffiti and no signs of vandalism. By comparing it to other sites it was concluded that the drawings were made between 200 and 1600 years ago and that the earliest stencils are up to 4000 years of age. Because it contains such an impressive range of ancient and recent imagery, and is one of the largest known surviving rock-art sites in eastern New South Wales, the scientific study made international headlines. But the release of information and the photographic evidence only took place after agreement by the broad Aboriginal community and the scientists.

The Premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr, announced the find in State Parliament on Tuesday 2 July, 2003. Among other things, he said 'rarely are sites of this importance discovered within such a close range of a major city'. One of the special features of the site is the large range of Wollemi animals drawn with great skill and accuracy. There are all sorts of birds, mammals and reptiles, including superb goannas, eagles and a rare white outline wombat. Given the many layers of imagery at Eagle's Reach, it obviously was important for many generations of Aboriginal people to visit and mark this incredible terrain with symbols of group and individual identity. Besides fully documenting the main site, we have also located and recorded many smaller unreported sites nearby.

Along with the superb drawings of animals there also are stencils, of hands, hand-and-forearms, boomerangs and hafted axes. The oldest stencils, in red and a dark yellow, are believed to between 2000 and 4000 years old.

Rare motifs, such as a double-headed human-like figure and animal-headed beings with human bodies also feature at the site. These creatures, some with bird-like heads, others with macropod-like heads may depict Ancestral Beings but certainly reflect spiritual beliefs common to many parts of Australia. However, in the greater Sydney region they are rare in the pigment art, found only at a handful of sites to the east of Eagle's Reach, in other parts of Darkinjung country.

A superb charcoal macropod, complete with shading, dominates the eastern end of the Eagle's Reach shelter.
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A very realistic swamp wallaby was depicted near a koala-like figure, Eagle's Reach.
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A charcoal rock wallaby appears set to bound over a bright yellow hand stencil, Eagle's Reach.
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This Eagle's Reach white boomerang stencil shows an object with one rounded end and one slightly pointed end.
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A rare double-headed human-like motif at Eagle's Reach appears to hold onto a lengthy barbed line.
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The Landscape of Blue Mountains Rock-Art: Wollemi National Park Phase 1

The reported: 'Eagle's Reach'