St.-Arnaud-Range-Nationalpark

The St. Arnaud Range National Park is a national park in the center of the Australian state of Victoria, 190 km north- west of Melbourne and 30 km south of St. Arnaud.

Flora and Fauna

The St. Arnaud Range is covered by dense, but also loose, dry eucalyptus forest. Particularly noteworthy are the old, tall trees that provide nesting cavities for many bird species, such as the Kookaburra and the Crimson Rosella, but also for the Yellow-footed bag mouse and the Sugar Glider.

History

From the settlement of the future park area by Aborigines announce notched trees and stone artifacts today. However, more information on their life there is not known.

In the 1840s the first European settlers arrived and used the area as pasture for their flocks of sheep. Also, as a source of timber had to serve the country. The agricultural use was continued until 1995.

By 1860, prospectors came, but there was only some superficial gold in streams and shallow tunnels. The remains of mining activity can still be seen in the park today.

1900 began with the installation of Teddington reservoirs. First, a lake for drinking water supply of St. Arnaud was born. In 1929, a second reservoir so. 1947 lost the lakes their importance for the water supply of the medium-sized town and since then only serve to supply the nearby nearby small town of Stuart Mill with drinking water and water used for agricultural purposes.

The area was declared by the State Government of Victoria to the national park in 2002 and covers 13,900 ha, where are the former Kara Kara State Park and most of the St Arnaud Range State Forest summarized.