While holidaying in Central Queensland, years ago, I had the rare privilege of seeing  Aboriginal art in a newly discovered cave.

The cave was accidentally discovered by workers who were building a new highway.  We were among the few white people to see this as the cave was never opened to the public.  Today it lies hidden in its natural surrounds, only meters from the road.  This cave was documented and left for its own protection.  Central Queensland, even today,  is sparsely populated and a huge area, impossible to police against vandalism.  

The cave was small and not very high,  the roof was covered with stencil art, mainly handprints.  The colours were amazing and we were all in awe at this discovery.  We were  of course very careful not to touch or leave our footprints behind.  We looked and took photos but didn't fully enter the cave.  It somehow didn't seem to be the right thing to do.  We could almost feel the presence of the early occupants,  it was a strange feeling, and one I'll never forget.   The cave overlooked a huge valley, a very pretty spot to camp.  In the cave we could see where a fire had been and a carved out oval in the floor of the cave had us all mystified.  It would have made a great crib and perhaps a mother had laid her baby there. 

The early Aboriginal tribe covered every inch of the roof of the cave with amazing art work, the colours were vivid and must have been mixed in their mouths with their hands used as stencils.  We could also see a few  boomerangs and would you believe one footprint.  I don't know if this one footprint had any significant meaning, but we all decided that perhaps there was a clown in that tribe.  We imagined them having a good laugh.

I've never been back to Central Queensland and I'm sure I'd never be able to find this cave again, but I'll never forget this memorable experience.

I'm sure there must be many more rare discoveries like this one in our vast Outback. Our country is unique and is still today the "Land of Wide Open Spaces" as the  majority of people live in the cities and know nothing of our bush or its secrets.



The one footprint

 

 

 


 

Page made by Sunshine

The photos are digitally marked and will always remain
the property of Sunshine.  Please do not use without 
permission.  Images compressed using PSP.