Aboriginal Heritage

The Traditional Owners and Custodians of the Clarence Valley are the Bundjalang, Gumbaynggirr and Yaegl people, who have lived and cared for country for time immemorial. Aboriginal heritage has been handed down through stories, dances, myths and legends and is embodied in landscapes and places as well as objects and is formally protected by legislation.  Aboriginal sites include shell middens, stone artefact scatters, isolated artefacts, grinding grooves, rock art and engravings, rock shelters, scarred trees, stone arrangements, stone and ochre quarries, fish traps, water holes and burials.

Clarence Valley Aboriginal Heritage Study(PDF, 49MB)

Aboriginal Heritage is protected by the Heritage Act 1977 and the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.

A precautionary approach must be taken when carrying out work and developing sites.  NSW Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHMIS) contains records of Aboriginal places and objects. Consultation with the relevant Local Aboriginal Land Council is required if an Aboriginal site is identified on a search.