The Nandewar Range, a mountain range that is part of 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 ...

, is located in the North West Slopes region of New South Wales,

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 range is situated approximately east of the township of Narrabri.

John Oxley John Joseph William Molesworth Oxley (1784 – 25 May 1828) was an explorer and surveyor of Australia in the early period of British colonisation. He served as Surveyor General of New South Wales and is perhaps best known for his two exp ...

was the first European to see the range in 1818 as he explored the New South Wales.

Location and features

The range is located on the western, inland, side of the New England region, and generally forms the watershed divide between the Namoi River and Gwydir River catchment basins to the south and north respectively. The Macdonald River starting south of Walcha drains west to

Warrabah National Park Warrabah is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, north of Sydney. It is situated west of Kingstown and east of Split Rock Dam. The major feature of the park is the Namoi River which carves a gorge that drops . Activities in the park ...

where it changes its name to the Namoi then is added to by the Manilla River, Peel River and Mooki River. The Horton River runs north to the Gwydir. Both rivers together drain segments of the Nandewar Range. The eastern part of the Nandewar Range starts at the Great Dividing Range south of Uralla. The main road between Barraba and Bingara crosses the range. At its western end, the Nandewar Range culminates at Mount Kaputar, a complex of volcanic origin, from which there are views of the flat inland plains of New South Wales.

The foothill areas of the Nandewar Range are used for grazing and cropping. There are forests in some of the higher areas. The Mount Kaputar area is included in Mount Kaputar National Park.

The range is occasionally dusted with light snow in winter.

Geology

The range is the remnants of an eroded basaltic

shield volcano A shield volcano is a type of volcano named for its low profile, resembling a warrior's shield lying on the ground. It is formed by the eruption of highly fluid (low viscosity) lava, which travels farther and forms thinner flows than the more v ...

that formed about 18 million years ago. Some of the exposed rocks in the area are 230 million years old.

Etymology

The first is a volcanic plug called 'Ninghdoo' (pronounced locally as Ningy-doo) or 'Nungadhun'. The names Nandewar, Kaputar and Ninghdoo are the Gamilaraay language names for these features.

Peaks

Mountains within the Nandewar Range include; * Bushy Mountain, () * Castletop Mountain * Gins Mountain *

Grattai Mountain The Grattai Mountain, a mountain located within the Nandewar Range, is situated within the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia. The mountain was formed by the Nandewar Volcano around 21 million years ago. The mountain has an ...

, () *

Mount Dowe Mount Dowe is a mountain in the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of an old shield volcano that was active around 18 million years ago. With an elevation of above sea level, Mount Dowe is the second highest moun ...

, () * Mount Kaputar, () * Mount Lawler * Mount Lindesay, () *

Mount Ningadhun Mount Ningadhun, also known as Castle Rock, Ningadoon (Hunt), and Ningadhun, is a mountain on the Nandewar Range, a spur off the Great Dividing Range, is located in the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia. Mount Ningadhun is si ...

, () * Mount Waa * Mount Yulludunida * Round Mountain

References

External links