What lies beneath … the treasures of Aboriginal history

The strong probability more significant ancient Aboriginal artefacts lie buried in Tasmania, as a sequel to the Brighton bypass discoveries, sets this intriguing question: where? Buried is the relevant word, for old ground surface Aboriginal middens are plentiful around the island, evidence of widespread past human habitation. Yet what the Brighton discoveries of likely occupation back 40,000 years give thought to is – just what else is hidden along our water environs?

One area worth renewed consideration in this context is Coningham, an important early Aboriginal link with its nearness to Bruny Island. The location has many instances of long past Aboriginal presence, and preservation of it is embraced in the Coningham Nature Recreation Area, under the Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts.

It covers almost 500 hectares, and Parks and Wildlife say it’s under continuing threat from present-day human activity: you know the sort of unwelcome behaviour – racing old or stolen vehicles in the bush, trail bikers, dumping rubbish, and using the place as a firewood source. But the service further notes there’s the challenge of managing “additional visitor and neighbour pressure as nearby rural properties are sub-divided or holiday homes and shacks are upgraded to permanent dwellings.” The area has come under this heightened pressure, and it’s expected to continue.

This raises an issue Percy From The Pews has often written about – concern about what will happen to Montgomery Park now that the Anglican Church has evicted Mission Afloat and made a deal to sell the historic property (but still no disclosure of buyer’s name and price). The park’s on the coastal margin, and considering the strong past Aboriginal presence in the general area, what might be buried under it?

This is a valid question if the buyer intends turning the site into building lots – not an easy process; as Percy has pointed out this isn’t a simple matter due to the park’s existing restricted occupational zoning and a likely lengthy consideration to get Kingborough Council to change it. It’s also something a concerned Aboriginal community could consider, given its vehement opposition to the Brighton bypass intrusion.

So what’s the weight of the Aboriginal past at Coningham?

Parks and Wildlife say it was highly valued by Aborigines, with 50 sites of habitation found. These may well have been part of a travel route to Bruny – there’s an occupation cave closest to the departure point for swimming to the island, less than two kilometres away across the D’entrecasteaux Channel. We’re told the majority of the sites (determined during a survey back in 1988) are within 100 metres of the sea. This shows a highly localised use of the coastal margin.

While the survey also said there were no complex sites, perhaps indicating little intensive occupation, their simple condition might have been due to “long-term disturbance”. And although the area isn’t regarded as having a highly significant European history, it was a Crown Land block logged by local sawmillers under licence until the late 1950s, and then as grazing leases until the late 1970s.

Indications are that the Aboriginal community would like to see a joint project developed to protect Aboriginal heritage and the reserve’s environment. This includes protecting the vegetation – it’s estimated there is a 60% infestation of Spanish heath weed, and while land care groups have done considerable work on this, eradication isn’t yet possible.

There’s also the protection of listed threatened species, with the area the habitat of the forty-spotted pardalote and the swift parrot.

And when we consider new building on our coastal margins, don’t forget the Ralph’s Bay canal estate project is still not dead, there’s been disagreement about a lifestyle village planned for a flower farm at South Arm, there’s the prospective sale to property developers of the Claremont Golf Club links, and there’s been the advertising of a land release not far inland from Montgomery Park.