Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park
| Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park Western Australia | |
|---|---|
 A location in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park | |
  Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park | |
 | |
| Nearest town or city | Busselton |
| Coordinates | 34°14′19″S 115°02′50″E / 34.23861°S 115.04722°E |
| Established | 1957 |
| Area | 190.92 km2 (73.7 sq mi)[1] |
| Managing authorities | Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions |
| Website | Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park |
| See also | List of protected areas of Western Australia |
Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park is a national park in the South West region of Western Australia, 267 km (166 mi) south of Perth. It is named after the two capes either end of the park, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste. It is located in the Augusta-Margaret River and Busselton council areas, and is claimed to have the highest visiting numbers of any national park in Western Australia. The park received 2.33 million visitors through 2008–2009.[2]
Description
[edit]The park extends over 100 miles, from Cape Naturaliste in the north to Cape Leeuwin in the south. It is composed of 28 separate reserves, which together have an area of about 15,600 ha. Despite the park's large size, the reserves are fragmented, and in many places the park consists only of a narrow coastal strip.[3]
It has many features of interest including limestone and granite outcrops like Sugarloaf Rock and Canal Rocks. The coastal area also contains many beaches with well-known surf breaks, such as Supertubes, Yallingup Beach, and Smiths Beach.[4] Other coastal features include coastal cliffs and aeolian dunes. The park contains many caves, some of which are accessible by the public. There are brackish and freshwater lakes and springs, and the park is crossed by several creeks and rivers, including the Margaret River.[3]
The park either passes through or contains historic sites including the Cape Leeuwin water wheel.
Leeuwin–Naturaliste Ridge
[edit]The Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge is a discontinuous strip of coastal dune limestone running north-south and extending along the western shore, parallel to the coast from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin. The ridge is composed of two landform elements, Tamala Limestone and the basement rock the limestone formed on, called the Leeuwin Complex.[5]
Tamala Limestone is a naturally occurring eolianite limestone, found in deposits on the western coastline of Western Australia.
The Leeuwin Complex is a strongly metamorphosed igneous Proterozoic rock made up mostly of granitic and anorthositic gneisses. The Dunsborough Fault forms the eastern boundary of the Leeuwin Complex where it adjoins the sedimentary Perth Basin.[6]
The ridge's geology and the variations in vegetation are confined to a number of very narrow bands that follow the north–south orientation of the ridge.
Flora and fauna
[edit]The park contains a large range of geologic features and soil types. The landscape and soil diversity supports a range of plant communities. These include coastal herblands and grasslands, sedgelands, and heath near the coast. Further inland are shrublands, woodlands, and forests, including peppermint tree (Agonis flexuosa) and Banksia shrubland and woodland, and significant stands of tall karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor) and jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest.[3]
A large variety of bird species inhabit the park including many sea birds, red-eared firetail, white-breasted robin, rock parrot and emu. Native mammals that can be found within the park include southern brown bandicoots, western grey kangaroos, western ringtail possums and brush wallabies.
Conservation
[edit] |
The national park was created from crown lands along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge at a time after the main primary industries in the region had been dairying and forestry, and when increased land-use conflict was arising from the spread of wineries, increased population on hobby farms and other agricultural activities.
Since then many competing land uses have created a complex land management scenario for state and local government authorities trying to mediate quite conflicting issues. The national park is located on some of the most vulnerable land in the region.
2021 Bushfire
[edit]On 8 December 2021, a bush fire began near Mammoth Cave within Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park[7], said to have been deliberately lit. WA premier Mark McGowan urged people to leave the area as soon as possible due to high fuel loads and dangerous conditions.[8] The fire burned through more than 3,200 ha (7,900 acres) by the following day. [9]
Cape to Cape Track
[edit]
In 2001, the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) opened the Cape to Cape Track, a 135 kilometre walking track along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste ridge.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ "Department of Environment and Conservation 2009–2010 Annual Report". Annual Report. Department of Environment and Conservation: 48. 2010. ISSN 1835-114X. Archived from the original on 11 January 2011.
- ^ "Shannon and D'Entrecasteaux National Parks Management Plan No. 71 2012" (PDF). Department of Environment and Conservation. 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ a b c Keighery, Greg & Lyons, Michael & Gibson, N. & Keighery, B.. (2011). Vascular flora of Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Conservation Science Western Australia. 2011, Vol. 8 Issue 1, p31-60. 30p.
- ^ Blair, Larry and Cheyne Horan Wavefinder Australia 3rd edition.A Hedonist publication ISBN 0-9581726-6-8 Supertubes (Smiths) p.253, Yallingup beach p.252, Smiths Beach p.253. also in (2001) Western Australia's Yallingup Margaret River Region, www.estategraphics.com.au/surfmaps – number 10, Supertubes; number 9, Yallingup; number 11, Smiths
- ^ "The mystery of Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park". The Margaret River Region. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ Eberhard, Stefan. (2005). Ecology and hydrology of a threatened groundwater-dependent ecosystem: The Jewel Cave karst system in Western Australia. Eberhard, Stefan <http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/view/author/Eberhard, Stefan.html> (2004) Ecology and hydrology of a threatened groundwater-dependent ecosystem: the Jewel Cave karst system in Western Australia. PhD thesis, Murdoch University. 67.
- ^ "Police believe WA bushfire was deliberately lit". SBS News. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "'GET OUT NOW': Mark McGowan's fire warning". PerthNow. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ Cassidy, Caitlin; Press, Australian Associated (9 December 2021). "Western Australia bushfires: two blazes rage in Margaret River". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
Sources
[edit]- Bastian, L. V. Minerals and their relationships in the Leeuwin block Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park Perth : Government Chemical Laboratories, [1977?]
- Cape to Cape Walk Track – Hamelin Bay to Cape Leeuwin 29 km" Department of Conservation and Environment, Busselton. n.d. pamphlet
- Shaping the Capes: Rocks and landforms of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge an explanation of the Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge.
- Orr, Kate. and Frewer, Paul (1988) Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park Management plan : summary of public submissions, November 1988 Como, W.A : Dept. of Conservation and Land Management.
- Taylor, Neil., Scott, Jane., Thomson-Dans, Carolyn and Banks, Roger.(n.d.) Feast for the Soul pp. 15–20 of The Best of the South West – Landscope special edition, Kensington, W.A.: Dept. of Conservation and Land Management ISBN 0-7307-5552-5
- Western Australian Planning Commission. Statement of planning policy. No. 7, Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge Policy. Perth, W.A. : Govt. Printer – in – Western Australian government gazette, Perth, Friday 18 September 1998, No. 189. Special. 5191–5215 p. .
- Western Australian Planning Commission. Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge planning review : issues, opportunities and directions : discussion paper for public comment / Western Australian Planning Commission, Shires of Augusta–Margaret River and Busselton. [Perth, W.A.] : The Commission, 1995.
