In the 1960s, University of New England researcher Isabel McBryde, identified a number of Aboriginal sites in northeastern New South Wales.  On ‘Bravo Station’ some eight miles south of Gravesend near Slaughterhouse Creek, on a slight wooded rise overlooking this creek, McBryde recorded seven large boulders bearing rock art in the form of red ochre paintings.  A detailed report is published in Aboriginal Prehistory in New England and she observed that the paintings used motifs not recorded anywhere else in the New England area.

In the Graman area east of the Gwydir Shire, McBryde identified several occupation sites and near Warialda Creek, west of Graman, sandstone was found with axe grinding exposures.  Near the homestead buildings at the ‘Dairy’, over twenty grooves were found in the sandstone and in Warialda township, near the crossing for the Gragin Road, some eight groups of grooves with one other isolated example, were found along the banks.  South of Warialda axe-grinding grooves are found at both Bullawa Creek and the Birrigal Creek art sites.

McBryde also identified three extensive groups of axe-grinding grooves on ‘Darling Plains Station’, near Sheep Station Creek, two groups only a third of a mile from the homestead, the third a mile distant.  At ‘Gresham Station’ also near Sheep Station Creek, about two miles from the homestead is a most impressive group of over a hundred grooves on an open expanse of sandstone near a series of rock pools in a small creek.

McBryde also recorded a rock-engraving site on the southern side of a small permanent waterhole, not far from Kellys Gully Creek in portion 176 of the Parish of Warialda.  At the time, McBryde expressed some doubt about the authenticity of the unusual engraving.

There is a stump of a very weathered carved tree on ‘Keera Station’, east of Bingara.  This was apparently associated with a burial site and another carved tree is shown in a watercolour dating to 1856 showing the two trees and a number of burial mounds.

The State of the Environment Report, 2004-2005 has identified a number of Aboriginal heritage sites including: the Myall Creek Memorial; Bora Ring- 20 kilometres on the Bundarra Road and Stump Carvings at ‘Keera Station’.  Ninety site features have also been found within the former Bingara Local Government Area:

74 artefact’; 7 more than last reporting period
2 art (pigment or engraving); 1 more than last reporting period
3 burial
2 ceremonial ring (stone or earth)
4 grinding grooves
1 stone arrangement
1 stone quarry
3 modified trees (carved or scarred) (DEC data 2004)

As noted in the report (Gwydir Shire Council, State of the Environment Report 04/05, November 2005, p.65.): Many Aboriginal heritage sites may not have been identified and a lack of knowledge of the value and significance of a site can also cause inadvertent destruction.

Land clearing, development and natural erosion can result in loss of Aboriginal heritage.

Responsibility for protecting Aboriginal sites and relics rests with the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, Parks and Wildlife Division, the location of identified sites remains confidential.

One concern in relation to Aboriginal sites is that many identified areas of importance are not located on land in Aboriginal control.  As such they may be subject to disturbance through activities of landholders who are unaware of the site’s significance or conservation value.

There is also a perception amongst some landowners that any identified sites within their property may lead to land claims by Aboriginal Land Councils.  This has meant that people are reluctant to inform the DEC if such sites are located on freehold land.  This is a problem for future protection of Aboriginal sites.

Gwydir Shire has very significant sites of pre-European occupation and further investigation of this heritage should be considered.  Urban Aboriginal heritage should also be investigated but it is important that Aboriginal people investigate and assess Aboriginal sites and heritage.  It is also important to investigate the importance of language and dialect and the way that it applies to the determination of Aboriginal lands and the naming of place names throughout the Shire.

Although the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 offers protection to Aboriginal sites, it is important to educate the community about Aboriginal culture and the importance of Aboriginal sites. It is also important to identify sites on pastoral properties to ensure that they are not destroyed. This can only happen by appropriate consultation with Aboriginal people.