This week, Roy decided he would like to investigate some Aboriginal heritage. Roy enjoys learning about the history and culture of the Aboriginal peoples, and one of the things which has always fascinated him is scarred trees. He knew about them, but had not had the opportunity to see very many. When he discovered there was one hidden away in a quiet street in Wyong, he had to investigate and share his discovery.
If you would like to visit the scarred tree, it is located in Chittaway Bay, not far from Wyong on the NSW Central Coast. The tree is actually opposite the Chittaway Bay Motel. To get there, follow Wyong Road until you reach Chittaway Road. Turn into Chittaway Road and follow the road until you see Burrugah Road (which will be on your left, just past the motel). The scarred tree is no longer a live tree, and is on the banks of the Wyong Creek.
Scarred trees are one of the more common Aboriginal artefacts, yet also one of the least understood. They are trees which bear a scar due to damage to the plant tissue of a trunk or branch. This damage prevents growth on the scarred area, which leaves an exposed area of what is called sapwood and because the bark has been removed this will eventually dry out and die, leaving behind the scars we recognise today. In the case of Aboriginal scarred trees, the scars have been created through deliberate removal of bark or wood from the tree. The scar was not necessarily deliberately made, often the wood or bark was removed to be used in building a variety of things, from shelters to containers to canoes!
Once, there were huge numbers of scarred trees in the Australian landscape. Of course, some of the scars were naturally made, but many were the result of Aboriginal activity as bark was an important material for the Aboriginal peoples. Today though, Aboriginal scarred trees are increasingly rare. Many have died and rotted away while others have been removed in land clearances, and are now replaced with homes and other buildings. Others still have been obscured by overgrowth – the scar is still there, but the tree has obscured it with new growth. Many scarred trees are also difficult to visit, or remain unknown, hidden deep in the bush or away from easy access. The tree at Chittaway Bay is therefore very important, being an easily accessible example of important Aboriginal culture.