Kariong Glyphs mystery explained

A plausible explanation for the Kariong hieroglyphics links the mystery of who carved them to an interior wall of the derelict Brisbane Water County Council (BWCC) building in Mann St, Gosford.

The answer is not aliens, or ancient Egyptians.

It was more likely an American artist who lived at Berkeley Vale in the 1970s.

He carved 22 panels of Gosford sandstone, which were then mounted on a foyer wall of the BWCC.

Now, two long-time residents say it makes sense that he also carved the sandstone in the bush at Kariong before, during or after he carved the 22 bas-relief panels for BWCC.

The timing fits.

The Kariong Glyphs are a group of about 300 Egyptian-style hieroglyphs found in Brisbane Water National Park in the 1980s in an area known for its Aboriginal carvings.

They are estimated to have been carved in the 60s or 70s, despite some people wanting to believe they aren’t reproductions but originals from ancient artists.

The 22 panels for the BWCC also reproduced part of an ancient wall decoration from an Assyrian palace dating back to at least 612 BC.

The Assyrian work was called the Lion Hunt of Ashurnasirpal, who was the King of Assyria from 884 to 859 BC.

It depicts the King and his son in a royal chariot hunting lions.

The original is now in the British Museum of London.

In May 1973 the BWCC bas-relief was revealed when an extension of the original 1957 building was officially opened.

Residents were given leaflets explaining the history of the reproduction, which had pride of position in the new foyer.

The extension was immediately to the north of the original BWCC building with its distinctive sandstone facade and clock tower.

So who was the man who carved the BWCC bas-relief – and maybe the Kariong gylphs?

He was Leroy Staley, an American who lived at Berkeley Vale and was commissioned to do the work by BWCC general manager Bill Barry.

Robyn Arms, who became fascinated with the historic building after first visiting it as a Gosford primary school student in the 70s, says Bill Barry was a family friend.

How she wishes she could question him now.

She wants to know more about Leroy Staley: and how to prove he carved the Kariong glyphs.

Arms’ interest in the building was reignited in recent years when she found the pamphlet from the 1973 opening ceremony.

It explained Staley was the artist and that the sandstone came from Somersby and the works were hung by Gosford Stone Centre of West Gosford.

The pamphlet said Staley had made a special study of this early art.

Arms entered the building in 2017 to see the bas-relief still there, albeit with graffiti over it.

She said she has talked to experts who say the graffiti can be removed.

Arms spoke to Central Coast historian Merril Jackson, who put two and two together; saying the Kariong hieroglyphics and the bas-relief share similar attributes.

Walkley award winning journalist, Joanne McCarthy, now retired, is one of many bushwalkers on the Central Coast who has visited the Kariong hieroglyphics.

She said the explanation made more sense than other theories.

“Anyone who’s visited the so-called Kariong Hieroglyphs is impressed by the beauty of the site as well as the time it must have taken someone to carve so many items into two large sandstone walls,” McCarthy said.

“Theories about ancient Egyptians, aliens or crazed cultists trudging up the hill from Woy Woy to pick at the rocks have always added colour to what we might otherwise label vandalism.

“But it would be nice to put a name to a possible real carver, and linking the ‘Glyphs’ to the old county council building’s bas-relief is as good a story as any so far.”

Developer Aland has recently bought the BWCC building as part of a bigger site and has put in amended plans for a development application (DA) that was approved in 2016.

Plans from the DA show Aland intends to keep the facade of the old building.

The bas-relief, the spectacular internal staircase, and other elements are mentioned as being retained, restored or rebuilt/reinstated.

Coast Community News would love to hear from any relatives or friends of Leroy Staley.

Email merilyn@centralcoastnews.net

Merilyn Vale