Wyrrabalong National Park
Encyclopedia
Wyrrabalong National Park is located on the Central Coast of New South Wales
, Australia
. It was added in 1991. The park consists of two main sections. The northern section consists of approximately 480 hectares and covers a substantial area of the peninsula between The Entrance
and Norah Head
as well as Terilbah and Pelican Islands within Tuggerah Lake
. The southern section consists of about 120 hectares of the coast, from Shelly Beach
south to Forresters Beach
. The park is also noted for containing the last significant coastal (littoral) rainforest on the Central Coast. Most of the park lies in the Tuggerah Important Bird Area
, identified as such by BirdLife International
because of its importance for a variety of water and woodland
birds.
and the Awabakal people
, the Indigenous Australians
. The Darkinjung occupied the southern section and The Awabakal occupied the northern section. It is believed Europe
ans first discovered
the Tuggerah Lakes
in 1796. It was found by Governor of Tasmania
, Colonel David Collins
, who had arrived on the First Fleet
, during the search for an escaped convict
, Mary Morgan, who was said to be living with the Aborigines to the North of the Hawkesbury River
.
The national slogan for Wyrrabalong National Park: "Wyrrabalong, it's where you belong."
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...
, 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 was added in 1991. The park consists of two main sections. The northern section consists of approximately 480 hectares and covers a substantial area of the peninsula between The Entrance
The Entrance, New South Wales
The Entrance is a district centre and town of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Wyong Shire local government area. At the 2006 census, The Entrance had a population of 2,632 people....
and Norah Head
Norah Head, New South Wales
Norah Head, originally known as Bungaree Noragh Point, is a headland on the Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia, south of Newcastle and north of Sydney. The nearest town is Toukley. The place is home to a lighthouse with scenic views, which is also considered a venue for weddings...
as well as Terilbah and Pelican Islands within Tuggerah Lake
Tuggerah Lake
Tuggerah Lake is a large coastal saltwater lake on the Central Coast of New South Wales about north of Sydney. It is connected with the sea through a tidal channel at its southern end known as The Entrance. It is also connected with two smaller lakes, Budgewoi Lake and through that to Lake...
. The southern section consists of about 120 hectares of the coast, from Shelly Beach
Shelly Beach, New South Wales
Shelly Beach is a coastal suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located on a peninsula between Tuggerah Lake and the Pacific Ocean south of The Entrance. It is part of the Wyong Shire local government area. It is 66 km south of Newcastle & 93 km north of Sydney...
south to Forresters Beach
Forresters Beach, New South Wales
Forresters Beach is a coastal suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located between Terrigal and Bateau Bay. It is the most Northern suburb of the City of Gosford local government area. Forresters Beach is well known for its reef breaks to surfers...
. The park is also noted for containing the last significant coastal (littoral) rainforest on the Central Coast. Most of the park lies in the Tuggerah Important Bird Area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
, identified as such by BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
because of its importance for a variety of water and woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
birds.
History
The land now occupied by Wyrrabalong National Park was first inhabited by the Darkinjung peopleDarkinjung people
The Darkinjung are the in the Wyong and area and is a major landowner on the Central Coast, participating in formal joint management of some areas of state forest in the region. It represents over 450 local Aboriginal residents...
and the Awabakal people
Awabakal people
The Awabakal are an Indigenous Australian people of coastal New South Wales.Awaba is the word for Lake Macquarie – Awabakal therefore meaning people of Lake Macquarie...
, the Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
. The Darkinjung occupied the southern section and The Awabakal occupied the northern section. It is believed Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
ans first discovered
Age of Discovery
The Age of Discovery, also known as the Age of Exploration and the Great Navigations , was a period in history starting in the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century during which Europeans engaged in intensive exploration of the world, establishing direct contacts with...
the Tuggerah Lakes
The Tuggerah Lakes
The Tuggerah Lakes lie on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia.-History:The area around the Tuggerah Lakes was inhabited by the local Aborigines known as the Darkinjung people prior to European discovery in 1796. The lake system was discovered by the first Governor of Tasmania, Colonel...
in 1796. It was found by Governor of Tasmania
Governors of Tasmania
The Governor of Tasmania is the representative in the Australian state of Tasmania of Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. The Governor performs the same constitutional and ceremonial functions at the state level as the Governor-General of Australia does at the national level.In accordance with the...
, Colonel David Collins
David Collins (governor)
Colonel David Collins was the first Lieutenant Governor of the Colony of Van Diemens Land, founded in 1804, which in 1901 became the state of Tasmania in the Commonwealth of Australia.-Early life and military career:...
, who had arrived on the First Fleet
First Fleet
The First Fleet is the name given to the eleven ships which sailed from Great Britain on 13 May 1787 with about 1,487 people, including 778 convicts , to establish the first European colony in Australia, in the region which Captain Cook had named New South Wales. The fleet was led by Captain ...
, during the search for an escaped convict
Convictism in Australia
During the late 18th and 19th centuries, large numbers of convicts were transported to the various Australian penal colonies by the British government. One of the primary reasons for the British settlement of Australia was the establishment of a penal colony to alleviate pressure on their...
, Mary Morgan, who was said to be living with the Aborigines to the North of the Hawkesbury River
Hawkesbury River
The Hawkesbury River, also known as Deerubbun, is one of the major rivers of the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its tributaries virtually encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney.-Geography:-Course:...
.
The national slogan for Wyrrabalong National Park: "Wyrrabalong, it's where you belong."
See also
- Protected areas of New South Wales (Australia)