Mitchell-River-Nationalpark (Victoria)

The Mitchell River National Park is a national park in eastern Gippsland in Victoria, Australia. It is located about 300 km east of Melbourne and 40 km north of Bairnsdale.

Mitchell River

The main attraction of the park is the Mitchell River itself It is the longest unregulated river in Victoria, offering an incomparable floodplain.

According to the Country Conservation Council Rivers & Streams Special Investigation 1990, he is an important example of the large-scale biological system that was formerly widespread throughout south-east Australia. The Mitchell River was included in the List of Australian natural monuments in 1992.

The Park

The National Park surrounds the Mitchell River where it has eaten through the rocky plateau and created high cliffs and various brackets.

The park was created in 1963 as Glenaladale National Park after the Australian Paper Manufacturers Ltd.. 1.63 km ² of land were donated. 1986 came further 118 km ² of land thereto and the name was changed to Mitchell River National Park. In 2003, this park was expanded by a further 23.75 km ², so that it now covers 143.38 km ².

In some brackets you will find remnants of the warm temperate rainforest, the southernmost occurrence of this type of rainforest on Earth. He can survive here because the steep walls of the gorges protect him appear before the annual dry summer winds and the occasional forest fires in the area.

There are documented sightings of over 150 bird species and 25 mammal species in the park. The vegetation consists of eg water papierrindigen eucalyptus trees, Lilly- Pillys, mutton primroses, ferns, mosses, creepers and lianas. In drier layers dominate typical Australian species such as acacia and eucalyptus.

The Mitchell River is also an important place for the Kurnai, especially for the Brabuwooloong and Brayakuloong from the central Gippsland. One of the attractions of the park is the Den of Nargun, which is mentioned in some Aborigineslegenden.

Gold was discovered in 1857 in the area. Alluvial fields along the Mitchell River and its tributaries were worked in the 20th century, but there were also gold mining in the 1860s. Later, Europeans used the area primarily for logging and as farmland.

Warm- temperate rain forest along the Woolshed Creek

Deadcock Den, a culturally important place for the Kurnai Women

Den of Nargun and Deadcock the

According to tribal legends of the Kurnai of Nargun was a wild creature, half man and half stone, which under an overhanging rock behind a small waterfall, lived in the Den of Nargun, a cave. This cave is located at the Woolshed Creek, a small tributary of the Mitchell River, about a kilometer above the creek mouth. In the legend of Nargun is said to have kidnapped children who visited the tide pools. It is said that the Nargun could not be fought with boomerangs or spears, as they bounced back to the pitcher.

The Den of Nargun was considered a special place for the Kurnai women, since it was used for initiation ceremonies and learning. So the legends probably served to keep children away from that sacred place and to ensure that they remained in the vicinity of the camp. The cave was once lined with stalactites, but unfortunately they have been discontinued over the years by souvenir hunters.

Another, less well-known cave of the Deadcock is also on Woolshed Creek, a little below the Den of Nargun, 200 m before its confluence with the Mitchell River. Also, this place was culturally very important for the Kurnai, especially for women.