| Gawler | |
| Range | |
|
The "Organ Pipes" waterfall in the ranges
|
|
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| State | South Australia |
| Region | Eyre Peninsula |
| Highest point | |
| - location | Nukey Bluff |
| - elevation | 465 m (1,526 ft) |
| Period | Proterozoic |
The Gawler Ranges are a range of stoney hills in South Australia to the north of Eyre Peninsula. The Eyre Highway skirts the south of the ranges. The Gawler Ranges National Park and Gawler Ranges Conservation Reserve are in the ranges north of Wudinna. The ranges are covered by the Gawler Ranges Native Title Claim.
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The ranges were named by Edward John Eyre after the Governor of South Australia, George Gawler in 1839.[1] This was on one of Eyre's earlier expeditions before his famous crossing of the Nullarbor Plain further west. And it was on this expedition that Edward John Eyre made the first recorded sighting of South Australia's floral emblem, the Sturt Desert Pea, in 1839 during an early exploration of the region.[2]
The ranges were formed by volcanic activity nearly 1.5 billion years ago: the volcanic activity resulted in a larva field, rather than volcanoes. The highest point is Nukey Bluff at 465 m above sea level.[1] The ranges are a small part of the Gawler Craton which is a craton rich in mineral resources, although many are only recently discovered and not yet fully exploited.[2] Bornhardts dominate the landscape.[3]
There are some 140 species of birds in the Gawler Ranges, including the Emu, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Major Mitchell's Cockatoo and Singing Honeyeater.[2]