The Muogamarra 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 A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...

that is located in the Sydney region of

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, in eastern Australia. The reserve is situated in the

northern edge Exercise Northern Edge is Alaska's premier military joint training exercise. Alaskan Command (ALCOM) uses expansive Alaskan training ranges to conduct this joint training operation. History Jack Frost (1975-1979) Northern Edge evolved ove ...

of Sydney and lies between the suburb of to the south, and the

Hawkesbury River The Hawkesbury River, or Hawkesbury-Nepean River, is a river located northwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its associated main tributary, the Nepean River, almost encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney ...

to the north.

Features

The vegetation is mainly dry

sclerophyll Sclerophyll is a type of vegetation that is adapted to long periods of dryness and heat. The plants feature hard leaves, short internodes (the distance between leaves along the stem) and leaf orientation which is parallel or oblique to direct ...

forest and shrubs on rocky areas, as well as mangroves along the river. The reserve is closed to the public for most of the year, and opens for six weekends each year in spring, when there are prolific displays of wildflowers. At other times of the year it is available to groups such as the scouts or to schools for education or special events. During the weekends that the reserve is open to the public, volunteers provide guided walks around some of the trails. Access to the Muogamarra Nature Reserve is via the Pacific Highway (not the M1 Pacific Motorway), approximately north of Cowan, near the Pie in the Sky cafe. A small gravel road with a gate is located on the left of the northbound dual carriageway with a long narrow gravel road that is accessible to most motor vehicles that leads into the reserve. The reserve facilities include an unsealed carpark, toilets, a small open grassy area and the main information centre. An entry fee applies.

Aboriginal sites

There are many Aboriginal sites in the Muogamarra Nature Reserve, especially rock art engravings and grinding grooves.

History

In 1836 George Peat was granted on the Hawkesbury River at what is now Peats Bight. He built huts and a wharf there, and farmed his land. A dairy farm was then built nearby at Peats Crater. Founded by John Duncan Tipper in 1934 when he leased to protect the flora, fauna and aboriginal sites, due to his concern at the loss of

Hawkesbury sandstone Sydney sandstone is the common name for Sydney Basin Hawkesbury Sandstone, one variety of which is historically known as Yellowblock, and also as "yellow gold" a sedimentary rock named after the Hawkesbury River north of Sydney, where this ...

forest. He named the site 'Muogamarra', which he believed was an aboriginal

Awabakal The Awabakal people , are those Aboriginal Australians who identify with or are descended from the Awabakal tribe and its clans, Indigenous to the coastal area of what is now known as the Hunter Region of New South Wales. Their traditional t ...

word meaning "preserve for the future." This area was at the northern end of what is now the nature reserve. Over time Tipper expanded his lease to . In 1954 the land was given up by Tipper and

gazetted A gazette is an official journal, a newspaper of record, or simply a newspaper. In English and French speaking countries, newspaper publishers have applied the name ''Gazette'' since the 17th century; today, numerous weekly and daily newspaper ...

as Muogamarra Sanctuary. The Sir

Edward Hallstrom Sir Edward John Lees Hallstrom (25 September 1886 – 27 February 1970) was one of Australia's best-known philanthropists and businessmen of the mid 20th century. Early life Born at High Park station, near Coonamble, New South Wales, Hallst ...

Faunal Reserve was dedicated in 1961 in what is now the southern part of the nature reserve. This was the work of Allen Strom and Sir Edward Hallstrom. In March 1969 the two areas were amalgamated into what is now Muogamarra Nature Reserve, under the control of the

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is a directorate of the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment responsible for managing most of the protected areas in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Despite its name the ...

Walks

The Muogamarra Nature Reserve has several short day walks, beginning at the main information centre: *Point LoopA short, flat loop walk from the carpark, with wildflowers. Goes to a viewpoint over Peats Crater and the Hawkesbury River. *J. D. Tipper LoopA short mostly flat walk to the lookout named for the founder of Muogamarra Nature Reserve views overlooking . *Lloyd TrigA slightly longer mostly flat walk on an old road built by convict labour to Lloyd Trig Point, with views of the Hawkesbury River area. *Peats CraterA fairly long walk with a descent and matching ascent which follows a convict road to the site of George Peat's farm at Peats Crater, which is also a geological feature. *Deerubbin LookoverA medium length walk with a descent and a similar ascent along the old Peats Ferry convict road to a rock shelter which has views over the Hawkesbury River approximately below. *Bird Gully SwampA trail which skirts the edge of a 'hanging swamp' containing a unique plant habitat. Also goes to the top of a waterfall and occupation sites of aboriginal Gu-ring-gai people.

References

External links

Free online topographic maps of Muogamarra – NSW Dept of Lands Spatial Portal
this is not accessible since 2014 * *

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