Wongan Hills
Encyclopedia
Wongan Hills is a range of low flat-topped hills in the Avon Wheatbelt
biogeographic
region of Western Australia
. It is located at 30°48′S 116°37′E, in northern parts of the Avon Wheatbelt
biogeographic
region.
The range was first recorded in 1836 by Surveyor General of Western Australia
John Septimus Roe
. The area was settled by the 1900s, and in 1911 the town of Wongan Hills
was established and named after the range. "Wongan" is derived from the Indigenous Australian name "wangan-katta", "wankan" and "woongan". "Katta" is known to mean "hill", but the meaning of "wongan" is uncertain. It may be related to "kwongan
", an indigenous word for sandplain, or "whispering", in which case "wongan katta" would mean "whispering hills".
They are biologically significant because they contain the largest remaining single area of natural vegetation in northern parts of the wheatbelt. A species of dryandra is endemic to the locality, referred to by the epithet published by Alex George
for his description of Dryandra wonganensis. The same author described a new, possibly rare species of hakea he collected at Wongan Hills; the distribution range of Hakea chromatropa
is also restricted to nearby regions. George thought this remarkable enough to note the fact that this region was settled shortly after colonisation, with a prolific botanical collector nearby, but it still revealed a new taxon.
He also described a rare verticordia, the Wongan Featherflower (Verticordia staminosa subsp. staminosa) discovered by Harry Butler
on a granite outcrop.
Avon Wheatbelt
Avon Wheatbelt is an Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia region in Western Australia and part of the larger Southwest Australia savanna ecoregion.-Further reading:...
biogeographic
Biogeography
Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species , organisms, and ecosystems in space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities vary in a highly regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, isolation and habitat area...
region of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. It is located at 30°48′S 116°37′E, in northern parts of the Avon Wheatbelt
Avon Wheatbelt
Avon Wheatbelt is an Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia region in Western Australia and part of the larger Southwest Australia savanna ecoregion.-Further reading:...
biogeographic
Biogeography
Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species , organisms, and ecosystems in space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities vary in a highly regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, isolation and habitat area...
region.
The range was first recorded in 1836 by Surveyor General of Western Australia
Surveyor General of Western Australia
The Surveyor General of Western Australia is the person nominally responsible for government surveying in Western Australia.In the early history of Western Australia, the office of surveyor general was one of the most important public offices...
John Septimus Roe
John Septimus Roe
John Septimus Roe was the first Surveyor-General of Western Australia. He was a renowned explorer, and a Member of Western Australia's Legislative and Executive Councils for nearly 40 years.-Early life:...
. The area was settled by the 1900s, and in 1911 the town of Wongan Hills
Wongan Hills, Western Australia
Wongan Hills is a town in the Shire of Wongan-Ballidu, in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. The town is approximately 182 km north of the State capital Perth, at an altitude of 286 metres....
was established and named after the range. "Wongan" is derived from the Indigenous Australian name "wangan-katta", "wankan" and "woongan". "Katta" is known to mean "hill", but the meaning of "wongan" is uncertain. It may be related to "kwongan
Kwongan
Kwongan is a type of heathland found on the coastal plains of Western Australia. The name is derived from the language of the Noongar people. Kwongan comprises floristically-rich heath with dense thickets of sclerophyllous shrubs and isolated small trees...
", an indigenous word for sandplain, or "whispering", in which case "wongan katta" would mean "whispering hills".
They are biologically significant because they contain the largest remaining single area of natural vegetation in northern parts of the wheatbelt. A species of dryandra is endemic to the locality, referred to by the epithet published by Alex George
Alex George
Alexander Segger George is a Western Australian botanist. He is the authority on the plant genera Banksia and Dryandra...
for his description of Dryandra wonganensis. The same author described a new, possibly rare species of hakea he collected at Wongan Hills; the distribution range of Hakea chromatropa
Hakea chromatropa
Hakea chromatropa is a species of shrub found in Southwest Australia. The distribution is restricted to an area around Wongan Hills, where it is found on gravelly loam in open shrubland...
is also restricted to nearby regions. George thought this remarkable enough to note the fact that this region was settled shortly after colonisation, with a prolific botanical collector nearby, but it still revealed a new taxon.
He also described a rare verticordia, the Wongan Featherflower (Verticordia staminosa subsp. staminosa) discovered by Harry Butler
Harry Butler
William Henry "Harry" Butler CBE is an Australian naturalist and environmental consultant. He is a populariser of science and natural history for both child and adult audiences and, as conservation consultant to the Barrow Island oilfield and many other projects, has played a major role in...
on a granite outcrop.