| Werakata National Park | |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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| Nearest town/city | Cessnock |
| Area | 2139 hectares |
| Established | 26 February 1999 |
| Managing authorities | NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service |
| Official site | http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au |
Werakata is a national park in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. The park is located to the north, east and south of the town of Cessnock (the park is separated into three distinct but closely located sections: near Abermain, near Kearsley and near Kitchener/Abernethy). The park lies within the Hunter Valley Important Bird Area.[1]
South of the national park is the separate Werakata State Conservation Area.[2]
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Originally called Lower Hunter National Park,[3] the Werakata National Park was created on 26 February 1999 with land that had previously been part of the Cessnock State Forest (State Forest No. 874, 1130 hectares). On 1 January 2003, the park was expanded with more land from the former Cessnock State Forest (478 hectares) and also Aberdare State Forest (State Forest No. 981, 531 hectares).[4]
The Werakata State Conservation Area was created in 2007 (with an area of 2,257 hectares).
The Hunter region was inhabited by the Awabakal, Worimi, Wonnarua, Geawegal, Birrpai and Darkinjung Aboriginal tribes, although little is known about Aboriginal use of the area in the vicinity of the park. After European settlement in the 1800s, forestry commenced and sawmills were established in and near area the area of the park (most of the timber going to local mines for pit props). The Cessnock and Aberdare State Forests were declared in 1942 and 1963 respectively and logging continued until the forests were transferred to the National Parks and Wildlife Service.[5]
When the park was first gazetted, the Spotted Gum-Ironbark vegetation communities found on the park were identified as being poorly represented in the regional reserve system.
The park is home to several threatened species including:[5]
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