Rushcutters Bay Park, one of the best harbour-side parks in the world, has a hidden history. It is the former site of the world’s oldest living, continuous 60,000 year-old, Aboriginal civilisation; a civilisation so old they had no reading, writing or arithmetic.

They had very little clothing and no guns. They had spears for fishing and boomerangs for hunting and lived off the land and the harbour which embraced them, from which they caught fish and oysters.

Their remainder oyster shells accumulated as mounds or middens and remain protected on the Elizabeth Bay harbour foreshore. They were not” farmers” of arable land as we know the term today.

But they were survivors. And they had a rich mythology and art and music.

They lived and around Rushcutters Bay where today’s park is. Their life was severely disrupted by the arrival of the English convict camp.

Captain Cook noted in the Journal of HMS Endeavour of 23^rd August 1770:

“ … the Natives of New Holland [Australia] … are far more happier than we Europeans; being wholy [sic] unacquainted not only with the superfluous but the necessary conveniencies [sic] so much sought after in Europe, they are happy in not knowing the use of them. They live in a Tranquillity which is not disturb’d by the Inequality of their Condition …”

Now a new book, “Paddington: a history” has been published in time for Christmas stockings.

It is written by multiple specialist authors with chapter one written by Dr Jack Irish, a distinguished archaeologist and historian.

He hones in on the possibility of locating indigenous archaeological remains in and around Rushcutters Bay Park and the park’s indigenous heritage significance.

He says that the Aboriginal people had known the general Paddington area for much longer than we can imagine. Although we know they were there in the park we do not know in detail how they lived. Sydney Harbour teemed with fish that Aboriginal people expertly exploited. We do not have any archaeological evidence from this area because so much was destroyed by urban development long before we thought to look.

However, there may be some Aboriginal archaeology not yet discovered in Rushcutters Bay Park or in people’s backyards, a fascinating thought.

Aboriginals used foot tracks to reach Rushcutters Bay and lived in a number of autonomous camps across the eastern suburbs. An aboriginal settlement existed at Rushcutters Bay, eventually abandoned in 1900, using several shelters they constructed around a camp fire.

These tantalising glimpses shine a light, albeit dimly, into a hidden history of our local area.

To purchase “Paddington: a history” please email heritage@paddington society.org.au Price $60-00

By Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions