Jabree Ltd. (Jabree) are the Registered Cultural Heritage Body for this area. Between 2011 and 2016, Jabree undertook a staged cultural heritage assessment of Yarrabilba. This assessment, conducted under the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 and the Cultural Heritage Management Agreement, was carried out between Jabree and Lend Lease as the developer of Yarrabilba in August 2011.
The cultural heritage assessment includes:
- the results of background research
- field surveys
- archaeological investigations.
Parts of the eastern area of Yarrabilba, including a section of Neumann Park were included in the Rock Shelter and Cultural Landscape Cultural Heritage Study.
The two Rock Shelters located at Neumann Park hold high cultural value to the Yugambeh People. They form part of a larger network of sandstone rock shelters on the sandstone ridge that borders Yarrabilba, Plunkett Conservation Park and Wickham National Park.
There are only two ground level rock shelters. There are many other rock shelters located high up in the sandstone escarpment.
The larger rock shelter to the north was the Tool Making Shelter and was used for stone tool manufacturing, acting as a living workshop.
The smaller rock shelter the Kitchen Shelter was more likely an occupation site, used for camping and cooking.
Lendlease worked with Jabree to care for this special site during and after development. Classroom groups are able to visit and observe the rock shelters to learn more about the cultural significance of the area.
Please respect this special place.
In the foreground a Jabree team member is kneeling beside a workstation excavating an area. In the background four Jabree team members are conducting excavations directly in front of the Kitchen Shelter.
The Rock Shelters and surrounding area contain unique landscape and ecological features. These features have significant cultural heritage and natural values.
Conservation considerations have informed the design of the proposed development. The Rock Shelter Complex and Quinzeh Creek have been designated as part of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 fauna corridor and environmental protection area.
Work within this area has included path restoration and community planting of native, local plants near the shelters supported by the Traditional Owners.
Traditional Owner Leighlan Masso planting native shrubs around the Rock Shelters in 2021.
In 2011, the Jabree cultural heritage survey team and Traditional Owner, Hague Best, inspected a rock shelter that was visible from the access track (Caves Track). The Tool Making Shelter is the larger of the two ground-level rock shelters. The team found a larger surface artefact scatter in front of the Tool Making Shelter.
In December 2011, there was a total of 98 stone artefacts recovered from a 4 square metre sample surface collection. Further subsurface investigations recovered 1116 stone artefacts. The subsurface findings represented a density of 232 artefacts per square metre.
These excavations suggested that a range of subsistence activities took place at this location. These activities would have included camping, food preparation and the manufacture of stone tools. Discussions with Traditional Owners suggests that this could have been:
- a gender specific site
- a teaching place, or
- linked to ceremonial activities.
This further increases the potential for cultural heritage finds.
Traditional Owners suggested data collected from these excavations indicated “that this site has the potential to make a substantial contribution to the archaeological record of Aboriginal history of the Gold Coast region. Based on consultation with the Gold Coast Native Title Group, this site holds significance for the Gold Coast Traditional Owner community as it is a unique example of their cultural heritage and represents a material link with their past (Jabree 2012 in Jabree 2018, 26).
The picture below shows four small stone blades. Three are examples of silcrete blades found in Neumann Park. The fourth blade (far right) is a quartzite blade also found in Neumann Park.
In 2016 archaeological test pits were excavated in front of the Kitchen Shelter.
There were no artefacts recovered from subsurface or surface investigations around the Kitchen Shelter. This was unexpected given the proximity and density of artefacts found at the Tool Shelter.
In an interview with Traditional Owner Hague Best about the cultural significance of these two sites Mr Best said, “you won’t find your tool shed in your kitchen” (Jabree Ltd/ Virtus Heritage 2017 in Jabree Ltd 2018, 38). Mr Best explained that the Kitchen Shelter was more likely an occupational/camping site, or a living/cooking area. As the Tool Shelter was used for stone tool manufacturing and as a workshop. By separating these activities, sharp stone objects were not lying around in the “living room” (Jabree Ltd/ Virtus Heritage 2017 in Jabree Ltd 2018, 38).
The large number of artefacts present in the “tool shed” indicate that these Rock Shelters were used by a substantial population, most likely on a seasonal basis (Jabree Ltd/ Virtus Heritage 2017 in Jabree Ltd 2018, 38).
The Tool Making Shelter located on the left semi-obscured by trees is the smaller of the two rock shelters. It was excavated in 2011. The Kitchen Shelter located on the right is the larger rock shelter. It is surrounded by trees. Two people are working close to the entrance of the Kitchen Shelter. They are investigating the subsurface (2016).
Jabree Ltd 2012. The Results of a Cultural Heritage Assessment for Yarrabilba. A report prepared for Lendlease Pty Ltd.
Jabree Ltd/ Virtus Heritage 2017. Jabree Rock Shelter and Cultural Landscape Cultural Heritage Study Yarrabilba and Cedar Creek, Southeast Queensland, prepared for Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (DATSIP)
Jabree Ltd 2018. Cultural Heritage Assessment Summary Report 2011-2017. Yarrabilba Priority Development Area. A report prepared for Lendlease Pty Ltd.