Gallery of some images in this directory

Gallery of some images in this directory, from g1.jpg to g27.jpg.

Gundabooka National Park NSW
Area - 43,590 ha

Located seventy kilometres south-west of Bourke in north-western NSW, Gundabooka National Park spans both the crescent shaped, rocky Gundabooka Range and a large expanse of lower lying semi-arid bush land region.

Bordering the north-western edge of the Cobar Peneplain Bioregion, Gundabooka National Park provides valuable habitat for a diverse range of plant and animal species, many of which are characteristic of the region. Prior to the establishment of the Park only one percent of these native species were protected within the parks and reserves system making Gundabooka a valuable contribution to the National Park Estate. The Gundabooka region has maintained many important traditional Aboriginal cultural and oral links, with Mount Gundabooka still forming a significant part of the Biame Dreaming Track, a major Dreaming Track in the region.

On a recent visit to Gundabooka National Park by the Executive of the NPA, the many natural and cultural values of the area were immediately recognisable. Following a month of heavy rainfall in the region the Park was supporting a dense covering of native grass and bush vegetation and a diverse range of insect and bird species (52 different bird varieties were spotted in the immediate vicinity of Belah Homestead). The Park has good examples of mulga (A. aneura), bimble box (Eucalyptus populnea), ironwood (A. Excelsa), white cypress pine (Callitris glaucophylla), wilga (Geijera parviflium), rosewood (Heterodendrum oleifolium), and belah (Casuarina cristata) *(NPWS, 1998).

The protection of a number of vulnerable animal species within the Park is of paramount importance, including the little pied bat and the largest colony in NSW of kultarr (a small hopping mouse). The natural vegetation of the rocky ranges provides essential habitat for the wallaroo, the wedgetailed eagle and the peregrine falcon, with the lower plains providing habitat for the western grey, eastern grey, red kangaroo and emu *(NPWS, 1998).

Mount Gundabooka is of special traditional spiritual and cultural importance to the local Aboriginal Community. Within the Park there are many good examples of local traditional rock art showing Ngemba dancers, animal spirits and intricate fish trap designs. Local Aboriginal guides provided invaluable information about the cultural significance of these sites and the surrounding area including significant Aboriginal burial sites and fish trap middens along the Darling River. The Cultural Museum in Brewarrina gives an extraordinary insight into the traditional history of indigenous Australia and to a people living in sensitive and equal harmony with the environment. My personal thanks to Paul Gordan, Ngeemba man and traditional owner, Phil Sullivan, Aboriginal Sites Officer, Bourke and Brad at the Cultural Museum in Brewarrina for such an informative insight into traditional Aboriginal culture. Thanks also go to the NPWS for looking after the NPA Executive during the December Executive Meeting at Belah Station, and for giving up the week-end to take us by 4WD around Gundabooka National Park. Thanks to Henry Petersen, District Manager, Bill Fittler, Assistant District Manager, Richard Atkinson, Pest Control Officer, Tim Lanyon, Gundabooka Park Ranger and Rob Bartell, Senior Field Officer.

*NPWS, (1996), Gundabooka National Park Information Sheet, Government Publication, Sydney NSW

Vivien Clayphan-Dunne,
Member NPA Executive (1st January 1999)

Photos from prints by Tom Fink, to be replaced by slides from Vivien shortly.