Hello,


Snames are circular depressions on sandstone (well known atop of the
Hornsby Plateau extending from Maroota to West Head - and possibly also
some in the Gosford district). They are postulated to be fire-scars of
long-maintained Aboriginal fire places. Best ones often occur near
prominent carvings, such as ones thought to depict Baiame who created much
of the landscape etc., and some anthropologists (such as the creator of the
'sname' name) have wondered if at such likely sacred sites a fire was
next-to-always kept burning ,,, "Baiame's fire". Well, I think that's how
the theory goes .. and it can only be a theory because if people are
responsible for these circular markings then there's obviously no written
records of any of it and only the stones can talk.

Snames are most often associated with polygonal weathering on the
sandstone, but conversely areas of polygonal weathering do not always nave
snames.

The 'type locality' of snames is on Elvina Track in Ku-Ring-Gai national
park north of Terrey Hills.

It costs $12 per car to enter the park (if a party is going, could car pool
before entering).

An excursion is being organised to visit the snames type locatity and the
originator of the name has been invited to come along and tell us about
them etc.

If you'd like to know more about the area, or contemplate coming, then
contact me and I can send a ca. 300 kb airphoto map of the area showing the
place in question.

Within the area of that map that can be sent there are actually three sites
of interest:

1) En route, at Frank Beckman Reserve, especially at the northern side of
McCarrs Creek Road and Yulong Avenue at Terry Hills, there's the
ferruginised top of the Hawkesbury Sandstone .. presumably a remnant of the
true natural Hornsby Plateau surface (and the polygonal jointed surface
being slighly erosional below that and hence at least a little later ??).
There was a 3m deep road cutting showing considerable ferruginisation of
sandstone top --- but I haven't been there for a long time so haven't
lately checked what may still be viewable there.

2) The track shown that's leading south from the toll gate is called the
"Centre" track I think, and it soon rises to the top of the sandstone
topography and has polygonal jointing there too (but little by way of
Aboriginal engravings and said to be hard to find). For anyone who wanted
to see just polygonal jointing without paying the park admission that's one
place to do so, and there may be others.

3) On the photo you can clearly see the head of the Coal and Candle Creek
drainage extending as far east as Elvina Track.
Somewhere along that, probably close to the sealevel end, should be the
Narrabeen/Hawkesbury formational boundary. And that is the area I have
mentioned several times before as wanting to go to in order to look for
more of the 'pseudo-tree' vertical ferruginous concretions such as at Box
Head .. because as I was informed by member of the Club, another club
member years ago noted seeing an upright fossil 'tree' or 'stump' here.
From what we know now I suspect it could turn out to be another place for
the vertical concretions.

The coming trip, probably in March, will fit in Elvina track only on the day.

The visiting of the head of Coal and Candle Creek, long overdue, to look
for 'trees', will be on some other date.


Regards,



John Byrnes