Fitzgerald River National Park
Encyclopedia
Fitzgerald River National Park is a national park in Western Australia
(Australia
), 419 kilometres (260.4 mi) southeast of Perth
, in the Shire of Ravensthorpe
and the Shire of Jerramungup
.
The park includes the Barren Mountains
and Eyre Range and the Fitzgerald River
as well as incorporating the Fitzgerald Biosphere. There are 62 plant species which are unique to the 329882 hectares (815,155.5 acre) park and a further 48 are rarely found elsewhere.
Recording almost 40,000 visitors in 2008, the park received $20 million in funding from the federal government's economic stimulus plan with the state government contributing an additional $20 million. The investment is to be used to redevelop and seal 80 km (49.7 mi) of roads within the park, construct a walk trail from Bremer Bay
to Hopetoun
and upgrade existing recreational facilities.
The Park is blessed with a magnificent scenery, mountain ranges, red cliffs, rivers, inlets and the incredible white sanded beaches with the crystal clear azure blue waters of the southern ocean.
Point Ann is one of the two places (the other is Head of the Bight) along Australia's coast where Southern Right Whale
s come to calve during their winter migration.
Within the National Park is the Quaalup Homestead Wilderness Retreat (now run as a hotel) that was built in 1858 by the Wellstead Family. In 1890, the Hassell family took over the pastoral lease
and the homestead.
The park can be accessed from the western side via Bremer Bay, or from the eastern side via Hopetoun
. The central area of the park is only accessible with a four wheel drive vehicle or on foot.
Many of the peaks in the park are off limits to climbers to prevent the spread of dieback
or root rot
from Phytophthora cinnamomi
.
Some species of interest include the royal hakea
, qualup bell
, scarlet banksia, showy banksia, bell-fruit mallee
, pea flowers, feather flower
s, many species of eucalypt
s and bottlebrush
es.
Three populations of the Crowned Mallee
all exist within the park and have a total number of 140 trees.
An endangered species, Boronia clavata, has five populations totalling only 100 individuals all of which are located in the area. Another two endangered species, the Barrens Wedding Bush
and the Fan-leaf Grevillea
, are also found within the park although in the case of the Barrens Wedding Bush, not exclusively.
The park is also home to 22 species of mammal
, 200 bird
species, 41 species of reptile
and 12 species of frog
. It is recognised as an Important Bird Area
; some of the rarer species are the Western Bristlebird
, Western Ground Parrot
and the Western Whipbird
. The endangered Malleefowl
is also known to inhabit the park with seven known and recorded sightings having been made 1998.
Some of the mammals found in the very rare Dibbler
and the Heath Rat
, both of which were though to be extinct at one time or another. The Tammar Wallaby
and Woylie
, both of which are threatened species
, are known to inhabit the mallee and heath areas of the park. Other species such as the Quenda, Chuditch and the Red-tailed Phascogale
also inhabit the area.
Migratory birds find refuge in the wetland and coastal regions and species that temporarily inhabit the area include the White-bellied Sea Eagle
, Fork-tailed Swift
and the Caspian Tern
.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
(Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
), 419 kilometres (260.4 mi) southeast of Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, in the Shire of Ravensthorpe
Shire of Ravensthorpe
The Shire of Ravensthorpe is a Local Government Area in the southern Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, about halfway between the city of Albany and the town of Esperance and about southeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the...
and the Shire of Jerramungup
Shire of Jerramungup
The Shire of Jerramungup is a relatively new Local Government Area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, about northeast of Albany and about southeast of the state capital, Perth...
.
The park includes the Barren Mountains
West Mount Barren
West Mount Barren is part of the Fitzgerald River National Park located between Bremer Bay and Hopetoun on the south coast of Western Australia the coordinates of the summit of West Mount Barren are ....
and Eyre Range and the Fitzgerald River
Fitzgerald River (Western Australia)
The Fitzgerald River is a river in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.Surveyor General John Septimus Roe discovered and named the river during expeditions in the area in 1848 after the governor of Western Australia of the day, Charles Fitzgerald....
as well as incorporating the Fitzgerald Biosphere. There are 62 plant species which are unique to the 329882 hectares (815,155.5 acre) park and a further 48 are rarely found elsewhere.
Recording almost 40,000 visitors in 2008, the park received $20 million in funding from the federal government's economic stimulus plan with the state government contributing an additional $20 million. The investment is to be used to redevelop and seal 80 km (49.7 mi) of roads within the park, construct a walk trail from Bremer Bay
Bremer Bay, Western Australia
Bremer Bay is a coastal town situated on the south coast of Western Australia in the Great Southern region between Albany and Esperance, at the mouth of the Bremer River. Bremer Bay is southeast of the state capital, Perth, and east of Albany. The town has a population of about 240...
to Hopetoun
Hopetoun, Western Australia
Hopetoun is a town on the south coast of Western Australia in the Shire of Ravensthorpe. Located on Mary Ann Haven, Hopetoun is some south-east from capital city Perth and west of Esperance.-History:...
and upgrade existing recreational facilities.
The Park is blessed with a magnificent scenery, mountain ranges, red cliffs, rivers, inlets and the incredible white sanded beaches with the crystal clear azure blue waters of the southern ocean.
Point Ann is one of the two places (the other is Head of the Bight) along Australia's coast where Southern Right Whale
Southern Right Whale
The southern right whale is a baleen whale, one of three species classified as right whales belonging to the genus Eubalaena. Like other right whales, the southern right whale is readily distinguished from others by the callosities on its head, a broad back without a dorsal fin, and a long arching...
s come to calve during their winter migration.
Within the National Park is the Quaalup Homestead Wilderness Retreat (now run as a hotel) that was built in 1858 by the Wellstead Family. In 1890, the Hassell family took over the pastoral lease
Pastoral lease
A pastoral lease is Crown land that government allows to be leased, generally for the purposes of farming.-Australia:Pastoral leases exist in both Australian commonwealth law and state jurisdictions....
and the homestead.
The park can be accessed from the western side via Bremer Bay, or from the eastern side via Hopetoun
Hopetoun, Western Australia
Hopetoun is a town on the south coast of Western Australia in the Shire of Ravensthorpe. Located on Mary Ann Haven, Hopetoun is some south-east from capital city Perth and west of Esperance.-History:...
. The central area of the park is only accessible with a four wheel drive vehicle or on foot.
Many of the peaks in the park are off limits to climbers to prevent the spread of dieback
Dieback
Dieback may refer to a number of plant problems and diseases including:* Forest dieback caused by acid rain, heavy metal pollution, or imported pathogens* The death of regions of a plant or similar organism caused by physical damage, such as from pruning...
or root rot
Root rot
Root rot is a condition found in both indoor and outdoor plants, although more common in indoor plants with poor drainage. As the name states, the roots of the plant rot. Usually, this is a result of overwatering. In houseplants, it is a very common problem, and is slightly less common in outdoor...
from Phytophthora cinnamomi
Phytophthora cinnamomi
Phytophthora cinnamomi is a soil-borne water mould that produces an infection which causes a condition in plants called root rot or dieback. The plant pathogen is one of the world's most invasive species and is present in over 70 countries from around the world.- Life cycle and effects on plants :P...
.
Flora and fauna
The park forms the basis of the internationally recognised Biosphere Reserve recognised by the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Program. The site contains over 1800 species of plant with 250 of these being rare and 62 being known to be found only within the confines of the park.Some species of interest include the royal hakea
Hakea
Hakea is a genus of 149 species of shrubs and small trees in the Proteaceae, native to Australia. They are found throughout the country, with the highest species diversity being found in the south west of Western Australia....
, qualup bell
Pimelea physodes
Pimelea physodes, commonly known as Qualup Bell, is native to Western Australia.-Distribution:The species occurs in the coastal region between Albany and Esperance, including the Fitzgerald River National Park.-References:*...
, scarlet banksia, showy banksia, bell-fruit mallee
Mallee
Mallee may refer to:* Mallee , the habit of woody plants that grow with multiple stems from underground lignotubers* Mallee , a biogeographic region in southern Western Australia...
, pea flowers, feather flower
Verticordia
Verticordia, a genus of the Myrtaceae family, are woody shrubs with small and exquisite flowers. They are mostly found in Southwest Australia, with several outlier species in northern regions. A revision of the genus in 1991 produced a classification within Verticordia of 3 subgenera, 24 sections,...
s, many species of eucalypt
Eucalypt
Eucalypts are woody plants belonging to three closely related genera:Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora.In 1995 new evidence, largely genetic, indicated that some prominent Eucalyptus species were actually more closely related to Angophora than to the other eucalypts; they were split off into the...
s and bottlebrush
Bottlebrush
Callistemon is a genus of 34 species of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae, all of which are endemic to Australia. It is sometimes considered a synonym of Melaleuca, and four Callistemon species from New Caledonia were moved to that genus by Lyndley Craven and John Dawson in 1998...
es.
Three populations of the Crowned Mallee
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
all exist within the park and have a total number of 140 trees.
An endangered species, Boronia clavata, has five populations totalling only 100 individuals all of which are located in the area. Another two endangered species, the Barrens Wedding Bush
Ricinocarpos
Ricinocarpos is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae. One species is native to New Caledonia, the others endemic to Australia.Species include:*Ricinocarpos bowmanii F.Muell. *Ricinocarpos brevis R.J.F.Hend. & Mollemans...
and the Fan-leaf Grevillea
Grevillea
Grevillea is a diverse genus of about 360 species of evergreen flowering plants in the protea family Proteaceae, native to Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Sulawesi. It was named in honour of Charles Francis Greville. The species range from prostrate shrubs less than 0.5 m tall to trees...
, are also found within the park although in the case of the Barrens Wedding Bush, not exclusively.
The park is also home to 22 species of mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
, 200 bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
species, 41 species of reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
and 12 species of frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
. It is recognised as an Important Bird Area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
; some of the rarer species are the Western Bristlebird
Western Bristlebird
The Western Bristlebird is a species of bird in the Dasyornithidae family.It is endemic to Australia.- Description :...
, Western Ground Parrot
Western Ground Parrot
The Western Ground Parrot is an endangered species of parrot endemic to Western Australia and is a close relative of the Eastern Ground Parrot and the somewhat more distantly related and mysterious Night Parrot...
and the Western Whipbird
Western Whipbird
The Western Whipbird is a passerine bird found in several scattered populations across southern Australia. It is predominantly olive green in colour....
. The endangered Malleefowl
Malleefowl
The Malleefowl is a stocky ground-dwelling Australian bird about the size of a domestic chicken...
is also known to inhabit the park with seven known and recorded sightings having been made 1998.
Some of the mammals found in the very rare Dibbler
Dibbler
Dibbler is the common name for Parantechinus apicalis, an endangered species of marsupial. It is an inhabitant of the southwest mainland of Western Australia and some offshore islands. It is a member of the Dasyuromorphia order, and the only member of the genus, Parantechinus...
and the Heath Rat
Heath Mouse
The Heath Mouse is one of the larger pseudomyine rodents found in Australia with a body mass of 55-90g, head and body length of 90-120 mm and a tail length of 80-110 mm . Its fur is grey brown dorsally, flecked with buff and black, with a distinctly paler belly...
, both of which were though to be extinct at one time or another. The Tammar Wallaby
Tammar Wallaby
The Tammar Wallaby , also known as the Dama Wallaby or Darma Wallaby, is a small member of the kangaroo family and is the model species for research on kangaroos and marsupials. It is found on offshore islands on the South Australian and Western Australian coast...
and Woylie
Woylie
The Woylie , also known as the Brush-tailed Bettong, is a small marsupial that belongs to the genus Bettongia. It is endemic to Australia...
, both of which are threatened species
Threatened species
Threatened species are any speciesg animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.The World Conservation Union is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories,...
, are known to inhabit the mallee and heath areas of the park. Other species such as the Quenda, Chuditch and the Red-tailed Phascogale
Red-tailed Phascogale
The Red-tailed Phascogale , also known as the Red-tailed Wambenger, is a small carnivorous marsupial found in central and western Australia...
also inhabit the area.
Migratory birds find refuge in the wetland and coastal regions and species that temporarily inhabit the area include the White-bellied Sea Eagle
White-bellied Sea Eagle
The White-bellied Sea Eagle , also known as the White-breasted Sea Eagle, is a large diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Originally described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1788, it is closely related to Sanford's Sea Eagle of the Solomon Islands, and the two are considered a superspecies...
, Fork-tailed Swift
Fork-tailed Swift
Fork-tailed Swift is the historic name of a kind of bird which has since been divided taxonomically into four species. It could refer to any of four different species of swifts:*Pacific Swift, Apus pacificus*Salim Ali's Swift, Apus salimali...
and the Caspian Tern
Caspian Tern
The Caspian Tern is a species of tern, with a subcosmopolitan but scattered distribution. Despite its extensive range, it is monotypic of its genus, and has no subspecies accepted either...
.