Goulburn-River-Nationalpark
The Goulburn River National Park is a national park in the center of the Australian state of New South Wales, 280 kilometers north- west of Sydney and 20 kilometers south west of Merriwa. The National Park is part of the Hunter River region and covers approximately 90 square kilometers at its tributary Goulburn River on the northeast slopes of the Great Dividing Range. Southeast of the Goulburn River National Park extends the Wollemi National Park. Nearby are the towns of Sandy Hollow, Denman, Merriwa and Mudgee.
Fauna
In the park there are kangaroos, wombats, emus, platypus and a large number of bird species.
History
The country of the present park was formerly inhabited by the Aboriginesstämmen the Wiradjuri, the Kamilaroi and the Wonnarua. The Valley of the Goulburn River was used by the natives as a link between the coast and the plains to the west of present-day New South Wales. Even today you can find many places in the park earlier interaction of the Aborigines, mainly sandstone shelters along the river, which were decorated with drawings. It played the living animals and plants an essential role.
In the 1830s white settlers built small sheep stations and it was cut down forest to a small extent and dig for minerals. Due to the low population density, the interventions in the natural but kept within limits.
Beginning of the 1980s came on the proposal, the Goulburn River to jam with the Kerrabee Dam to supply the Hunter region with water. Almost the entire area of the present park would have disappeared in a reservoir. In 1983 it was recognized, however, that the area as a natural and cultural space is much too valuable, and established the National Park.
External links and sources
- Official website