Bondi's little-known Indigenous carvings

Indigenous heritage sites in Australia continue to face the threat of destruction and vandalism. In 2020, the destruction of the 40,000 year old Juukan Gorge site in Western Australia by global mining giant Rio Tinto, was the most widely publicised and condemned in a long history of significant cultural and archaeological destruction. In recent days, vandalism of Indigenous sites in Tasmania has been reported in the press. Here in Sydney, I have been struck by the apparent low regard shown for Indigenous rock carvings around the city. This is especially remarkable at Bondi's Ben Buckler Point where a collection of Indigenous carvings sits on a golf course with no real explanation or protection, near one of the most popular tourism destinations in Australia. After decades swimming the bay at Bondi, I was surprised to discover the site when doing research recently. Most friends in Sydney were unaware of the carvings. An outstanding opportunity to use these carvings to explain Indigenous presence in Sydney prior to British Invasion is missed at the site. How should we measure the value of such carvings? What level of protection and recognition do they deserve? I have approached Waverley Council for further information about the site. And have included more photos of the site on the Rusty Compass Bondi Beach entry.