Baiame Cave

A lot of people know the story of Genesis and the God spoken of in the bible but have you ever wondered where that story may have really come from? In the bible story God created the earth and everything in it and then he created man. God even gave Moses sacred stones to look after and told us that our names and deeds will be recorded for final judgment.  Last week I came across a place in the Hunter Valley in NSW which has a very similar story and it made me think.
Baiame Cave is a very sacred location for the Wanaruah people just outside Milbrodale. Situated just off the Milbrodale Road in the Hunter Valley the Aboriginal paintings at Baiame Cave have been carbon dated at around 3,000 years old.  The cave itself is little more than a rock over hang, half way up an escarpment among the sandstone hills of the area. There is nothing remarkable about the cave at first inspection but once you take the short walk up to the viewing platform it soon becomes clear that there is something quite special about this place.

As you enter the overhang and your eyes adjust to the shade you lift your eyes to the ceiling. Like a natural rock cathedral  in the midst of the bush there on the ceiling is a painting of Baiame with arms out stretched.  His long arms spread out across this place of worship to protect the Wanaruah people that came together in the valley below him . As I stood there under his protective gaze and I looked into Baiames’ face I noticed that he had no mouth. But who is he?

Baiame is the creator God of the Wanaruah people.  He came down from the sky to Earth and created all the beautiful things in life including the forests and rivers the kangaroo and Emu.  He also created the birds and Eaglehawk to protect the land. Lastly he created Man and women and laid down the rules of life, songs and tradition. Baiame also carved the Lore stones which are all over the land to record man’s conduct and are to be looked after by the Elders of the people.  If all the lore stones are broken then he will return and will reward and punished men according to their conduct. When Baiame was finished, he returned to the sky from where he came. So why does Baiame have no mouth? He has no mouth as Baiame speaks from his heart.

Dose the story sound familiar? Do you think it’s the same God mentioned in the Bible or is it just a coincidence that the Wanaruah people had this story 3000 years ago long before Australia was discovered by Europeans. Standing there looking up at his face made me sad to think that this story could be lost and it made me sad to think that the people who once held this story so sacred are long gone from the valley. But if the people are gone who is looking after the lore stones and how many more lore stones need to be broken before he returns?

Baiame Himself