Mount Keira
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| Mount Keira | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 463.9 metres |
| Location | Wollongong, Australia |
| Coordinates | |
Mount Keira (IPA: [maʊnt kɪərə]) is a 463.9 metre high mountain lying 4 kilometres northwest of the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. Its distinctive shape and proximity to Wollongong make it a major local landmark. It is noted for the views of the city from the popular summit lookout and its history of coal mining.
The Mount Keira area is very good for students studying the rainforest ecoysystems. It has both Rainforest and Open Forest.
Keira is an indigenous Australian term meaning large lagoon or high mountain.
Mount Keira is also the name of the suburb on the mountain’s southern flank.
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[edit] Description
Mount Keira forms part of the Illawarra escarpment which it joins by a high saddle on the back (western) side. It is capped by a westward sloping plateau of relatively hard sandstone ringed on the remaining 3 sides by cliffs. From the cliff base the mountain slopes down to the surrounding foothills and coastal plain. From Wollongong the mountain looks rather flat topped; while from the side (north or south) it appears more pointed.
The majority of the mountain is forested with eucalypt (sclerophyll) forest and sub-tropical rainforest. Civilization encroaches on the lower slopes. Surrounding suburbs are (from north to south): Balgownie, Mount Pleasant; Mount Ousley; Keiraville; West Wollongong and Mount Keira.
Mount Ousley Road climbs up the northern spur and over the escarpment and is the major road link between Wollongong and Sydney. On the southern side, Mount Keira Road leaves suburbia and winds its way through the bush up the back of the mountain, giving access to the (now closed) Kemira coal mine, Byarong park, Girl Guides camp, Scout camp, and ultimately the summit lookout via Queen Elizabeth Drive.
In 1955, the Rotary Club of Wollongong, with the active support of local government and businesses, constructed the summit lookout. In 2005, the Summit Park refurbishment provided an opening up of magnificent vistas of the coastal plain from Kiama to Sydney, and is managed as an annex of the Wollongong Botanic Garden.
As well as overlooking Wollongong, the summit provides views from the Kurnell Oil Refinery 53 kilometres north to the northern headland of Jervis Bay, 64 kilometres south. Summit facilities include parking, toilets, and a kiosk/restaurant.
The Mount Keira Ring Track provides walkers with a moderate 5.5 kilometre (3 - 5 hour) round trip that can be commenced from either the summit or Byarong Park.
The Dave Walsh Track, named after a scout leader, climbs from the western entrance to the ring track through a rocky area until, after passing the southern cliff and a distinctive termites mound it reaches the Victoria Rock lookout, which can be reached from the summit by a maintenance trail and a track with several lookouts along the eastern cliff facing Wollongong.
The Ken Ausburn Track goes from the street corner between Wollongong University and the Sports Field adjacent to the Wollongong Botanic Garden past the Lawrence Hargrave Sculpture to the Mount Pleasant management Trail, and then to the Eastern entrance to the Ring Track, after passing an airshaft from the Kemira Colliery and a lookout over the northern suburbs.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Wollongong W-8285 (Includes Flagstaff Point W-9185) 1:10,000 Orthophoto Contour Map. (Second edition March 1977). Central Mapping Authority of New South Wales.
- Mount Keira – Local area information. Wollongong City Library. Retrieved 30 December 2005.
- Place Names of Wollongong. Wollongong City Library. Retrieved 30 December 2005.
- Leon Fuller. (March 1988). Mt. Keira Ring Track Brochure.
