Mount Yarrowyck Nature Reserve Aboriginal art site

Mount Yarrowyck is 1206 metres in altitude & nearly 400 metres above the surrounding plain. Mount Yarrowyck Nature Reserve was created in February 1983 covering an area of 589ha & protects an Aboriginal painting site within a granite overhang. A three kilometre return walk takes you along the granite slopes of the mountain through one of the few remnants of natural bushland on the western slopes of the New England Tablelands.

The Aboriginal rock art was painted by the Anaiwan people, the main Aboriginal tribe of the New England High Country & is believed to be 150 to 500 years old. The paintings are a combination of circles & bird tracks painted in red ochre. Silicone drip lines have been placed above the art to divert any moisture.

Aboriginal elder, the late Victor Shepherd, was sure the paintings were of a bird that fed on the ground. Ground birds were represented by their feet alone. He said the toes look too short & thick to be an emu. The paintings must be of the Plains Turkey or Bustard. Unfortunately we will never know the true meaning of the site.