Harbour Partners - The Landscape of Blue Mountains Rock-Art: Protecting heritage

Matthew Kelleher (left), Wayne Brennan and Jill Ford survey Eagle's Reach in order to draw a plan and profile.
View larger image

Our team attempts to obtain drinkable water just as dark descends.
View larger image

The Eagle's Reach rock-art site's location is being kept secret to protect it from vandals and inadvertent damage by well-meaning visitors. For instance, if people were to touch the drawings and stencils the oil from their hands could damage the art and by walking into the shelter dust could fill the air, settling on the images. As well, the site is located in an area that is very difficult and dangerous to reach so there are major health and safety concerns. It is in such a rugged location that a helicopter cannot land nearby. The Aboriginal community is in agreement that this is a very important, special site that needs full protection. They are working with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and scientists to establish the best way to study, protect and manage not only this site but also others throughout the Wollemi and the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.

Although first reported to the National Parks and Wildlife Service in late 1995, a number of factors affected the timing of the scientific documentation of the site. First, we had to initiate a recording project in the region, get permission from a broad spectrum of the Aboriginal community, get a research licence from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and obtain funding. We also had to assemble archaeological teams consisting of a range of archaeologists, Australian Museum staff, National Parks and Wildlife staff, students, other experts and specific members of the Aboriginal community. We then began to survey and document a cross-section of sites.

The terrain in the Wollemi is very rugged and at many times of the year quite inhospitable. On the first occasion that we planned to visit Eagle's Reach there were heavy rains just before that caused flash flooding in some of the canyons and rivers we had to cross. Eight months later the rains had been replaced by drought. Just prior to our second planned attempt the temperature rose to over 40 degrees Celcius. As there would be no drinking water and we could not drop in by helicopter we decided to postpone a few more months. Then a raging bushfire moved through that part of the Wollemi. Finally, in May 2003, conditions were right for our six-person team to trek safely to the site.

When we got there we found little drinking water near Eagle's Reach. What there was, in a small natural stone 'well', was the colour of coffee but tasted like sulphur, iron and rotting vegetation! It immediately clogged our water filters so we had to collect, boil and drink it unfiltered. Strangely, by the end of our trip we had acquired a taste for it. Fortunately, none of us got sick and, although the terrain was very dangerous, with thousands of loose rocks and boulders on very steep scree slopes, there were no injuries.

The Landscape of Blue Mountains Rock-Art: Wollemi National Park Phase 1

Protecting heritage