Main Range National Park
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| Main Range National Park | |
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| IUCN Category II (National Park) | |
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| Nearest town/city: | Warwick |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 184.0 km² |
| Managing authorities: | Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service |
| Official site: | Main Range National Park |
Main Range is a mountain range and a national park in Queensland (Australia), 85 km southwest of Brisbane. It is part of the World Heritage site Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves. It protects the western part of a semi-circle of mountains in South East Queensland known as the Scenic Rim. This includes the largest area of rainforest in South East Queensland.[1]
The park extends from Kangaroo Mountain south to Wilson's Peak on the New South Wales border [2] and includes Mount Superbus (1375 m), South East Queensland’s highest peak.
Bare Rock, Mount Cordeaux, Cunningham's Gap, Mount Mitchell, Spicer's Gap, Spicers Peak, Mount Huntley, Mount Asplenium, Mount Steamer, The Steamer Range, Lizard Point, Mount Roberts, Mount Mistake and Mount Superbus all lie within the Main Range National Park. In total there are more than 40 peaks higher than 1000 m.[1]
There are walking tracks, camping areas and picnic facilities at a number of places such as Spicers Gap, Cunningham's Gap and Queen Mary Falls.
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[edit] Flora and Fauna
The steeper slopes have avoided any land clearing, acting a refuge for wildlife in the region.[2] The most predominant vegetation types on the range is sub-tropical rainforest and dry sclerophyll forest.[3]. The park’s forests and montane heath provide habitat for many animals, including the Eastern Bristlebird, Coxen’s Fig Parrot, Black-breasted Buttonquail, all of which are threatened by extinction. The vulnerable and rare Red Goshawk may also be seen.
The Giant Barred Frog, Fleay's Barred Frog, Spotted-tailed quoll and the Hastings River Mouse are listed as endangered species, once more commonly found in the Goomburra section of the park.[4]
[edit] History
Spicer's Gap is believed to be a traditional pathway for Indigenous Australians travelling between the inland and the coast.
In 1828, Allan Cunningham 'officially' discovered the route through the mountains now called Cunningham's Gap, however it can be easily seen from Brisbane. Stockman Henry Alphen discovered Spicer's Gap in 1847. The Spicer's Gap Road, used to carry supplies to and from the Darling Downs, is the best remaining example of sophisticated 19th century engineering in Queensland.
In 1840, Ernst Dalrymple settled in the Goomburra Valley. Dalrymple Creek was named after this early settler.
By 1847 a new road, through Spicer's Gap was opening areas for settlers.
In 1909 the areas surrounding Cunningham's Gap were declared a national park.[1]
In 1994 the UNESCO World Heritage Committee extended the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves of Australia to include Goomburra Forest Reserve within Main Range National Park.
[edit] See also
- Border Ranges National Park
- Bunya Mountains National Park
- Protected areas of Queensland
- McPherson Range
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (2000). Heritage Trails of the Great South East p 34. ISBN 9780834510082
- ^ a b Hema Maps (1997). Discover Australia's National Parks. Milsons Point, New South Wales: Random House Australia, 186. ISBN 1975992472.
- ^ Rankin, Robert (1992). Secrets of the Scenic Rim. Rankin Publishers, 18. ISBN 0-9592418-3-3.
- ^ Environmental Protection Agency. Wildlife Online Extract:Species List. Retrieved on 2 April 2006.
