Gooreenggai (North Arm Cove)

Item details


Name of item:	Gooreenggai (North Arm Cove)
Type of item:	Complex / Group
Group/Collection:	Aboriginal
Category:	Ceremonial site
Location:	Lat: -32.6716553401 Long: 152.039546781
Primary address:	, North Arm Cove, NSW 2324
Local govt. area:	Mid-Coast
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Karuah
Hectares (approx):	5.351

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
	North Arm Cove	Mid-Coast			Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	Why is it an Aboriginal Place? Gooreengi Aboriginal Place is a traditional men's ceremonial site. Why is it important to Aboriginal people? In pre-1788 times, Gooreengi Aboriginal Place was used for ceremonial purposes by the Worimi Aboriginal people. It is where male initiation ceremonies began. Today, Gooreengi Aboriginal Place remains an important place for local Aboriginal people; it represents a tangible link between the present and the past. Local Aboriginal people strongly believe that the area should be protected and looked after for future generations.
	Date significance updated: 13 May 15
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Physical description:	What's on the ground? Twelve human-constructed stone arrangements can be found at Gooreengi Aboriginal Place. These stone arrangements are rare among Aboriginal sites, with only the Carrington and North Arm Cove stone arrangements recorded as having an opening. All are roughly similar in shape, forming an oval or horseshoe shape with a clear opening. Nature of the environment Located on Baromee Hill on the northern shores of Port Stephens, the area has been subject to various land clearances in the past due to coastal residential development. However, the western part of the hill containing the North Arm Cove Aboriginal Place remains heavily vegetated. The area contains several trees of varying age including Red Stringybark, Smooth and Rough-Barked Apple, Spotted Gum, Red Bloodwood, Fig, Forest Oak, Paperbark, Tea-tree and several other species of tree. Over nineteen species of plants traditionally utilised by Aboriginal people can be identified within the immediate vicinity of the Aboriginal Place.
Further information:	Erratum was issued on 1/6/2007, page 3118 of the gazette.


Current use:	The area is used for recreational activities such as picnicking. Local Aboriginal people also use the area to pass on the knowledge of its significance.

History


Historical notes:	Despite being previously divided and sold for residential development, the area is mostly natural bushland with the exception of roads cleared for the subdivision. The area is used for recreational activities such as picnicking. Local Aboriginal people also use the area to pass on the knowledge of its significance.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Aboriginal cultures and interactions with other cultures-Activities associated with maintaining, developing, experiencing and remembering Aboriginal cultural identities and practices, past and present.	Aboriginal Culture-

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
NPW Act - Aboriginal Place			23 Feb 07	33	1112

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Electronic	NSW Government	2007	Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales	View detail

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5062883
File number:	07/18962 & DOC 15/142685

Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager.

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