The Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve is a
protected
Protection is any measure taken to guard a thing against damage caused by outside forces. Protection can be provided to physical objects, including organisms, to systems, and to intangible things like civil and political rights. Although th ...
nature reserve that is located in the
Central Tablelands region of
New South Wales, in eastern
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. The reserve is situated on the
Great Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, also known as the East Australian Cordillera or the Eastern Highlands, is a cordillera system in eastern Australia consisting of an expansive collection of mountain ranges, plateaus and rolling hills, that runs rough ...
, north-east of
Mudgee. The Castle Rocks walking trail reveals
pagoda-like
sandstone formations.
The average elevation of the terrain is 569 meters.
Flora and fauna
left, Regent honeyeater
Many plants and animals are at their eastern or westernmost points of natural distribution. The reserve is situated at one of the lowest points of the Great Divide. The streams forming from the east reach the
Hunter River Hunter River may refer to:
*Hunter River (New South Wales), Australia
*Hunter River (Western Australia)
*Hunter River, New Zealand
*Hunter River (Prince Edward Island), Canada
**Hunter River, Prince Edward Island, community on Hunter River, Canada
...
, and those from the west eventually flow to the
Darling River.
The flora of the area is an interesting combination of the moist mountain plants and those of the drier western plains. Vegetation is mostly dominated by ''
Eucalyptus'' and ''
Callitris
''Callitris'' is a genus of coniferous trees in the Cupressaceae (cypress family). There are 16 recognized species in the genus, of which 13 are native to Australia and the other three (''C. neocaledonica, C. sulcata'' and ''C. p ...
'' pine.
The reserve is particularly noted for the high bird diversity. It lies within the
Mudgee-Wollar Important Bird Area
Mudgee-Wollar Important Bird Area is a 1627 km2 tract of land in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies about 250 km west of Sydney, extending eastwards from the towns of Mudgee and Gulgong, and encompassing th ...
, so identified by
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global partnership of non-governmental organizations that strives to conserve birds and their habitats. BirdLife International's priorities include preventing extinction of bird species, identifying and safeguarding ...
because of its importance for the
endangered regent honeyeater.
Typical mountain or eastern forest birds such as the
superb lyrebird and
satin bowerbird are present, as are
emu
The emu () (''Dromaius novaehollandiae'') is the second-tallest living bird after its ratite relative the ostrich. It is endemic to Australia where it is the largest native bird and the only extant member of the genus ''Dromaius''. The emu' ...
s and
cockatiel
The cockatiel (; ''Nymphicus hollandicus''), also known as weiro (also spelt weero), or quarrion, is a medium-sized parrot that is a member of its own branch of the cockatoo family endemic to Australia. They are prized as household pets and comp ...
s, more usually seen west of the dividing range. Some 164 species of birds have been recorded. Facilities are present for
birdwatchers.
History
The western
Wiradjuri people traveled through the area, trading with other
indigenous Australians east of the divide. Europeans in the 19th century were present. They traveled across the range, on horse and bullock teams. There is also evidence of
peat and coal mining, collection of wood, quarrying, prospecting and
blacksmithing.
This place stands out with the historical heritage of the Aboriginal people of Wiradjuri.
See also
*
Goulburn River National Park
*
Protected areas of New South Wales
References
Nature reserves in New South Wales
Central Tablelands
Hunter Region
Important Bird Areas of New South Wales
1961 establishments in Australia
Protected areas established in 1961
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