Hacking River
Encyclopedia
The Hacking River is a stream in the state of New South Wales
in Australia
. It rises near the Princes Highway
west of Stanwell Tops
, and flows through the Royal National Park
before emptying into Port Hacking
. Within the park at Audley, visitors have enjoyed picnic and boating facilities for more than a hundred years.
, before entering the sea at Port Hacking
. It is named after the colonial figure, Henry Hacking. Its upper reaches lie adjacent to the Garawarra State Conservation Area
, where it is a small stream in a gully within rainforest. The river passes through a variety of plant communities, such as dry eucalyptus
forest, tall wet eucalyptus forest and rainforest
s. Significant rainforest plants growing by the river banks include White Beech, Citronella
, Supplejack
, Bangalow Palm, Jackwood and Golden Sassafras
. The Blackbutt
, Grey Ironbark and Sydney Blue Gum are common eucalyptus trees. As it moves downstream, it flattens and widens before it reaches the estuary at Port Hacking.
A variety of molluscs, crustaceans, insects, fish and birds live in and around the river. Long Finned Eels migrate from oceanic spawning grounds as elvers. As adults they mature in the creeks and streams of the Royal National Park, sometimes to be seen in the river pools. Jollytail are common small fish. Platypus
may occasionally be seen in the river, and Azure Kingfisher
s nest in the river banks. The land snail Meridolum marshalli
is restricted to Royal National Park; its main habitat is wet areas near the river.
, built in 1899, crosses the Hacking River at Audley
within the Royal National Park. Here, mangrove flats were cleared to make way for boat-sheds and accommodation in the late 19th century. A boatshed and picnic grounds remain at Audley, having been used continuously since. Visitors can canoe and kayak further upstream along the Hacking River or its tributary Kangaroo Creek.
The soft soils are vulnerable to erosion, which is exacerbated by bushwalking. Erosion is facilitated by relatively high rainfall in the Garrawarra State Conservation Area. Furthermore, runoff from the towns of Helensburgh
, Otford
and Stanwell Tops
(which lie above the catchment) has also impacted on water quality in the river, resulting in increased turbidity and algal growth.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It rises near the Princes Highway
Princes Highway
The Princes Highway extends from Sydney to Port Augusta via the coast through the states of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, a distance of 1941 km or 1898 km via the former alignments of the highway ....
west of Stanwell Tops
Stanwell Tops, New South Wales
Stanwell Tops is a locality between the cities of Sydney and Wollongong on the New South Wales, Australia coastline. It lies northwest of Stanwell Park and southwest of Otford.-References:...
, and flows through the Royal National Park
Royal National Park
Royal National Park is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 29 km south of Sydney CBD.Founded by Sir John Robertson, Acting Premier of New South Wales, and formally proclaimed on 26 April 1879, it is the world's second oldest purposed national park, the first usage of the term...
before emptying into Port Hacking
Port Hacking
Port Hacking is an Australian estuary, located in Southern Sydney, New South Wales and fed by the Hacking River and several smaller creeks, including Bundeena Creek and The Basin. It is a ria, a river basin which has become submerged by the sea...
. Within the park at Audley, visitors have enjoyed picnic and boating facilities for more than a hundred years.
Ecology
Most of the river flows through the Royal National ParkRoyal National Park
Royal National Park is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 29 km south of Sydney CBD.Founded by Sir John Robertson, Acting Premier of New South Wales, and formally proclaimed on 26 April 1879, it is the world's second oldest purposed national park, the first usage of the term...
, before entering the sea at Port Hacking
Port Hacking
Port Hacking is an Australian estuary, located in Southern Sydney, New South Wales and fed by the Hacking River and several smaller creeks, including Bundeena Creek and The Basin. It is a ria, a river basin which has become submerged by the sea...
. It is named after the colonial figure, Henry Hacking. Its upper reaches lie adjacent to the Garawarra State Conservation Area
Garawarra State Conservation Area
Garawarra State Conservation Area is a 900 hectare reserve in eastern Australia. Situated 40 kilometres south of Sydney. Garawarra abuts Royal National Park. The nearest significant township is Helensburgh...
, where it is a small stream in a gully within rainforest. The river passes through a variety of plant communities, such as dry eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
forest, tall wet eucalyptus forest and rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
s. Significant rainforest plants growing by the river banks include White Beech, Citronella
Citronella moorei
Citronella moorei is a rainforest tree growing in eastern Australia. Common names for this species include Churnwood, Citronella, Soapy Box, Silky Beech, and Corduroy.- Description :...
, Supplejack
Flagellaria indica
Flagellaria indica is a climbing plant found in many of the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, India, South East Asia, Polynesia and Australia....
, Bangalow Palm, Jackwood and Golden Sassafras
Doryphora sassafras
Doryphora sassafras, commonly known as Sassafras, Yellow-, Canary- or Golden sassafras, or Golden Deal, is a species of evergreen tree of the family Atherospermataceae native to the subtropical and temperate rainforests of eastern New South Wales and Queensland, Australia...
. The Blackbutt
Eucalyptus pilularis
Eucalyptus pilularis, commonly known as Blackbutt, is a common and dominant tree of the myrtaceae family native to southeastern Australia. A large tree, it is identified by the stocking of rough bark, to about half way up the trunk, above this is white smooth bark. The leaves are a uniform glossy...
, Grey Ironbark and Sydney Blue Gum are common eucalyptus trees. As it moves downstream, it flattens and widens before it reaches the estuary at Port Hacking.
A variety of molluscs, crustaceans, insects, fish and birds live in and around the river. Long Finned Eels migrate from oceanic spawning grounds as elvers. As adults they mature in the creeks and streams of the Royal National Park, sometimes to be seen in the river pools. Jollytail are common small fish. Platypus
Platypus
The platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young...
may occasionally be seen in the river, and Azure Kingfisher
Azure Kingfisher
The Azure Kingfisher Alcedo azurea is a small kingfisher , in the river kingfisher family, Alcedinidae. It is found in Northern and Eastern Australia and Tasmania, as well as the lowlands of New Guinea and neighbouring islands, and out to North Maluku and Romang.It is a very colourful bird, with...
s nest in the river banks. The land snail Meridolum marshalli
Meridolum marshalli
Meridolum marshalli is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Camaenidae. This species is endemic to Australia.-Distribution and ecology:...
is restricted to Royal National Park; its main habitat is wet areas near the river.
History and human development
A causewayCauseway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
, built in 1899, crosses the Hacking River at Audley
Audley, New South Wales
Audley is a locality on the outskirts of southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the Royal National Park and is part of the Sutherland Shire....
within the Royal National Park. Here, mangrove flats were cleared to make way for boat-sheds and accommodation in the late 19th century. A boatshed and picnic grounds remain at Audley, having been used continuously since. Visitors can canoe and kayak further upstream along the Hacking River or its tributary Kangaroo Creek.
The soft soils are vulnerable to erosion, which is exacerbated by bushwalking. Erosion is facilitated by relatively high rainfall in the Garrawarra State Conservation Area. Furthermore, runoff from the towns of Helensburgh
Helensburgh, New South Wales
Helensburgh is a small town in New South Wales, Australia. Helensburgh is located 45 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and north of Wollongong. Helensburgh is in the local government area of Wollongong City Council and marks the northern end of the Illawarra region...
, Otford
Otford, New South Wales
Otford is a northern suburb of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia located near the Sydney metropolitan area. It has a railway station on the CityRail South Coast Line....
and Stanwell Tops
Stanwell Tops, New South Wales
Stanwell Tops is a locality between the cities of Sydney and Wollongong on the New South Wales, Australia coastline. It lies northwest of Stanwell Park and southwest of Otford.-References:...
(which lie above the catchment) has also impacted on water quality in the river, resulting in increased turbidity and algal growth.