Nielsen Park, Australia

Nielsen Park is a highly modified landscape that reflects three phases of occupation pre settlement landscape a modified landscape seen as both a natural and planned picturesque landscapearound Greycliffe House and a public landscape for recreation that includes a number of support structures. In addition the Steel Point fortifications add a further layer to the use and appearance of  the park. Nielsen Park has had its pre settlement landscape dramatically altered by extensive clearing and modifying of landforms and vegetation but also by replanting and regenerating a form of natural bushland on recent years of the overall impression that areas of the landscape appear similar to that which existed prior to European settlement. However the areas of nativ vegetation that now exist do not reflect the form of the historic native landscape has taken place during the NPWS management of the site and contrasts to the Trust management that focused on the recreational aspects of the place.



In its currrentform the Park does not reflect any of the specific periods of use in its overall landscape setting but rather a combination of regenerated native landscape modifiedgarden landscape related to the house and very modified park landscape related to the recreational uses. the landscape is also modified by the buildings that are viewed as part of the now largely picturesque landscape. These buildings are mostly of a small scale and were sensitively designed to be viewed as components of a picturesque setting.

The site with its accessible location fresh water supply and wealth of resources contitutes an Aboriginal cultural landscape. Extensive archaeological evidence at Nielsen Park demonstrates use of the land for camping and fishing over an extended period. There are furteen recorded Aboriginal sites within the park. These sites are comprised within: A small cavity in the base of sdstone escarpment at the north eastern end of Shark Beach. Two red ochre positive hand stencils are located on the rear wall of the stone cavity.

Tips: The hands (both leftand right) are approximately 15 centimetres (5.9 in) wide and 14 centimetres (5.5) long. No archaeological deposits are present within the site. Th cavity floor is sandstone.A small sandstone overhang on an upper terrance of a sandstone escarpment at the north eastern end of Shark Beach (photo to left shows site location). The overhang is approximately 6.6 metres (22ft) long 1.4 etres (4 ft 7 in) high and 2.6 metres (8 ft 6in) wide. The site is appoximately 15 metres (49 ft) above sea level.