17 February 2017
Redbank Archaeological Survey
North Richmond Joint Venture engaged Kelleher Nightingale Consulting to undertake an archaeological survey excavation for Aboriginal heritage at Redbank Creek. Fieldwork was carried out in late 2016 by archaeologists and field representatives from various Aboriginal community stakeholder groups.
Native aboriginals in the Richmond area are the Darug peoples Boorooberongal clan. The Hawkesbury and Nepean area was one of the first areas of the Sydney region explored by European colonists, meaning it was also the location of some of the earliest recorded interactions with local aboriginal inhabitants.
Historical documents support claims that aboriginal people in the Richmond and Hawkesbury area had settled around the Redbank Creek area. In 1795 a battle fought between the Darug people of the Richmond and Hawkesbury area and the New South Wales Corps which included several armed settlers was recorded to have taken place, it is now commonly known as ‘The Battle of Richmond Hill’.
This event has been widely considered to be the first recorded battle between Aboriginals and settlers. A memorial garden commemorating the Darug people of the Richmond and Hawkesbury area in New South Wales was established within the grounds of the St John of God complex on Grose Vale Road to commemorate the battle, where Darug people fought to defend their land from invasion.
Based on the results of earlier test excavations along Redbank Creek, further investigation was required at two significant areas within the Redbank estate. The aim of this exercise was to recover a sample of archaeological deposits before civil construction in these areas commences. Thousands of stone artefacts have been recovered and cultural features identified.
Further evidence supporting aboriginal settlement around the North Richmond area can be located on the banks of Redbank Creek where there are still grinding grooves visible in the rocks today. These grooves are spread over a 20 metre section of Redbank Creek.
