Aboriginal History on North Head

History
Immigration

Carvings
on site

Residents
in the past

Spring Cove, Cannae Point and surroundings have evidences of middens, Aboriginal burial sites, rock art and an engraving. Aboriginal tools have been found on North Head.

Allen Madden, of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal
Land Council, said "North Head was once the home of Aboriginal medicine men. This place was revered. We all must work together to preserve it for its value to all Australians."

Preliminary research, due for completion in November, 2000, is underway to discover more about the traditional significance of North Head for Aboriginal people.

This research is being conducted by DARWALA-LIA. Emma Lee spoke to the Annual General Meeting of Friends of Quarantine Station, Inc, about the findings of DARWALA-LIA. 

The area where the Quarantine Station was built was used as a camp site for people supporting the medicine men. Some of the women were healers too.

Important resources such as white clay and paper bark trees were available on North Head which made it a valued place for burial ceremonies.

Allen Madden
Metropolitan Local Aboriginal
Land Council Representative

Emma Lee, archeologist 
Aboriginal Heritage Consultant
Photo: P.Caldwell