The Aboriginal Heritage Study will include a review of the Aboriginal archaeology and history of the Shire, and will identify places, people and themes of heritage significance. The Study will provide policies and recommendations to assist Council with their responsibility to manage Aboriginal heritage within the Shire. Importantly, the study will also include consultation with Aboriginal people with traditional and historical ties to the Shire, and recommendations for ongoing involvement of Aboriginal people in the management of their heritage.

The scope of the Aboriginal Heritage Study is based on the Gap Analysis and Action Plan, that was prepared for Council in 2019. The key objectives are:

• To update data on Aboriginal heritage sites and places, and provide an improved understanding of the condition of these places.
• To broaden the recognition of Aboriginal heritage beyond pre-colonisation archaeological sites.
• To identify mechanisms for ongoing consultation and collaboration with local Aboriginal people about the management of their heritage.

If you have knowledge that you would like to contribute, please email our project team at fenella@coasthistory.com.au Or phone 1800 450 995.

We are seeking any information that you may like to share about the Aboriginal history of the Shire, and particular places of importance, and your thoughts on how Council can recognise and protect this rich heritage

Once a draft of the Aboriginal Heritage Study has been completed, the study will be placed on public exhibition for review and comment.

Aboriginal objects are already provided with legal protection under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. The study will help Council identify and manage Aboriginal objects, through the Local Environmental Plan and Development Control Plan.

The Study also aims to identify Aboriginal heritage places that may not be protected as ‘Aboriginal objects’ and Aboriginal heritage values of places that have already been listed for other reasons. Listing of these potential items will be discussed with Council, the Hornsby Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultative Committee and representatives of the Guringai and Darug traditional owners.

The Aboriginal heritage study is being completed on behalf of Hornsby Shire Council by Coast History and Heritage. The team includes:

Fenella Atkinson

Fenella is managing the study. She is a heritage consultant with over 20 years’ experience in Aboriginal and historical cultural heritage management, with a focus on archaeology. Most of her work has been in New South Wales, but she also has experience in Western Australia, Queensland, and Victoria. Fenella is engaged in tertiary studies in anthropology. She is currently the joint national coordinator of National Archaeology Week and also coordinates the Student Support Fund for the Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists Inc.

Dr Michael Bennett

Michael is the project historian. He has worked for the past 20 years in Aboriginal history, preparing expert reports for NSW native title claims, recording community genealogies and writing regional histories for local councils and government authorities. More recently, he has recorded oral histories for the State Library of NSW and National Library of Australia.  He is the author of Pathfinders, A History of Aboriginal Trackers in NSW, published in 2020.  A website of the same name went live in 2016, the result of a collaborative project with NSW Police and the descendants of trackers.

Dr Paul Irish

Paul is the Director of Coast History and Heritage and is providing heritage and history advice for the study. Paul has worked for the past 20 years with Aboriginal heritage and history. He has comprehensive experience in all aspects of Aboriginal cultural heritage management, including Aboriginal community consultation, development assessment, strategic heritage planning, developing management plans for specific places, and all aspects of archaeological assessment such as survey, excavation and specialist analysis. Paul is also the author of the 2017 book Hidden In Plain View. The Aboriginal People of Coastal Sydney (winner of the 2018 NSW Premiers History Award for Community and Regional History), and has been collaboratively researching Sydney’s Aboriginal history for many years with members of the La Perouse Aboriginal community.

The project team is also working in consultation with the Hornsby Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee (HATSICC), representatives of the Darug and Guringai traditional owners of the area, the Hornsby Heritage Advisory Committee, and Council staff.

The project is scheduled to be completed in late 2021.