Heritage Aboriginal Site Abandoned

Wayne Berry - Member for Ginninderra

Media Statement - 20 June 2000

Labor MLA Wayne Berry has slammed the absence of funding for work on the Latham axe-grinding grooves as a demonstration of appalling indifference to the Territory's aboriginal heritage.

The Latham axe-grinding grooves is the only significant aboriginal site listed by the Government in Belconnen, it is on the register of the National Estate and is classified by the National Trust. The site is run down and signage for the site has been left vandalised for years.

Mr Berry said, "The government's internet homepage boasts about our aboriginal sites but any visitor to this location would be ashamed about the government's indifference to our aboriginal heritage sites.

The Government homepage describes the site as: -

  • 'A PLACE OF ABORIGINAL SIGNIFICANCE

  • Aboriginal artefact grinding grooves were discovered and documented in this park in the bed of Ginninderra Creek in the late 1970s and early 1980s. According to the National Trust, these grooves, which were made by Aboriginal people in the course of sharpening the blades of their stone axes, are 'one of the few examples of grinding grooves yet found in the ACT'. The grooves 'lie on boulders and slabs of volcanic tuff on both sides of the creek and in its bed'.

  • The grooves demonstrate an aspect of the Aboriginal way of life no longer practised. They provide evidence of stone tool technology, upon which indigenous Australian's tool making was based. Such tools were used by Aboriginal people in all aspects of life'

Mr Berry went on to say, "The Government's indifference is an example of how its actions do not match with its rhetoric on reconciliation. Surely when the Government can afford many millions of dollars for business handouts it should be able to find a few thousand dollars to put towards the preservation of this important site.

"If the Government's recent catch cry 'building social capital' is to have any meaning surely the preservation of our aboriginal heritage should feature in some way in the most recent budget.