Nadgee Nature Reserve

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Nadgee Nature Reserve is a protected area on the far south coast of New South Wales, to the immediate south of Ben Boyd National Park.[1][2] Its southern border is the state border with Victoria, where it abuts Croajingolong National Park. Of its total area of 20,671 hectares (51,080 acres), 18,800 hectares (46,000 acres) is declared wilderness.[1] The reserve accommodates a diverse range of activities include bushwalking, cycling, swimming, fishing and sea kayaking.[1]

History

The area was inhabited by the Bidawal people, and many shell middens have been found along the coastline. Art and burial sites are located at Womboyn Beach within the reserve.[3] The first Europeans to visit the area were the survivors of the Sydney Cove, who encountered members of the Bidawal tribe on 29 March 1797, en route to Sydney.[4] Since then, the region was impacted little by European settlement, with only two farms and surrounding acreage cultivated.[3] In 1954, Allen Strom, Allan Fox and Charles Witheford proposed the gazetting of a reserve, to which the New South Wales Government responded by naming it the Nadgee Faunal Reserve in 1957.[3] The reserve was enlarged with the addition of the (recently logged) upper catchment of the Nadgee River in the 1970s.[3]

Flora and fauna

Vegetation types within the park include dry eucalyptus forest, heathland and saltwater wetlands.[1] Much of the vegetation was burnt in bushfires in 1972 (from a lightning strike) and 1980 (from a logging burn-off).[3] A variety of mammal species inhabit the reserve including Swamp Wallaby, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Common Wombat, Agile and Dusky Antechinus and Sugar Glider.

Birds

The varied habitats support a wide variety of bird species, 34 of which occur in the heathland areas alone.[1] Species of note include the Sooty Owl, Eastern Ground Parrot, Little Tern and endangered Eastern Bristlebird.[5] The reserve lies within the Nadgee to Mallacoota Inlet Important Bird Area, so identified by BirdLife International because it supports populations of Eastern Bristlebirds and Pilotbirds as well as other significant fauna.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Nadgee Nature Reserve". Office of Environment and Heritage (NSW). Retrieved 10 May 2011. 
  2. ↑ "Nadgee Nature Reserve". Place Names Search. Geoscience Australia. Retrieved 10 May 2011. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Wright, p. 229.
  4. ↑ Wright, p. 227.
  5. ↑ Wright, p. 231.
  6. ↑ "IBA: Nadgee to Mallacoota Inlet". Birdata. Birds Australia. Retrieved 2011-08-27. 

Cited text

  • Wright, Peter (1996). National Parks of Southern NSW. Rosebery, NSW: Bridge Printery. ISBN 0-9587590-1-4. 

Coordinates: 37°18′S 149°56′E / 37.300°S 149.933°E / -37.300; 149.933

External links

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