This was a walk to look for some heritage sites near Uloola Falls in Royal National Park. Bob and myself started from Waterfall and walked out along the fire road to Uloola Falls, then after a few short side trips, we next walked to the Karloo Pool for lunch, and then out to Heathcote.
One of the Blue Pools
As we walked out along the fire road, we could not help noticing some nice wild flowers.
We checked out a few rock platforms near the fire road. One seemed to have small Aboriginal engraving of an Emu footprint.
Further along, we turned off the fire road and followed the old track to the Blue Pools in Uloola Creek. This track, still marked on the topographic map, was very overgrown but still followable. It also took us to our next Aboriginal site. This was a large engraving of a figure that was pointing with an outstretched arm.
A few months ago, Rory McGuinness had sent me a photo taken by his daughter of this figure. He wanted to know if I thought it was a genuine Aboriginal engraving. To both Bob and myself, it looks like a genuine engraving. To support its Aboriginal origin, nearby were lots of sharpening grooves – right in the stream bed.
But also nearby, where some are chiseled initials. Also quite old, but sad to see.
We then continued downstream on the very overgrown track. in a few places we checked out the rock slabs in the stream bed for more Aboriginal art. We did find more sharpening grooves –
in places the stream bed was very open –
There were also a series of pools – the Blue Pools. They seemed to lie exactly as shown on the topographic map.
Below is the lowest of the Blue Pools, with a nice cascade just above it. I had walked up to here a few times on previous trips to Uloola Falls. It is a good place for a swim, as are the pools upstream. The cascades are really only worth photographing after rain.
Not far downstream was Uloola Falls. We stopped for a short break.
We then headed off to another Aboriginal site, I had visited a few times previously. It also features a lot of sharpening grooves and a few engravings.
Here are the engravings –
There were also some others that were smaller and hard to decipher.
Back at Uloola Falls –
We then walk to the Karloo Pool.
On the way we saw quite a few birds –
And at the Karloo Pool we stopped for lunch.
Then it was a short walk to Heathcote. A very pleasant and interesting day out.