Liverpool Range
Encyclopedia
The Liverpool Range is a mountain range
and a lava
-field province in New South Wales
, Australia
.
The Liverpool Range starts from the volcanic plateau
known as the Barrington Tops and runs for about 100 km westwards, forming the northern boundary of the Hunter Valley
district. Parts of the Liverpool Range form the watershed between the coastal and inland drainage of New South Wales
and thus form a component of the Great Dividing Range
. The western end of the Liverpool Range merges into the Warrumbungle Range.
The Liverpool Range was named after Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, who was the Prime Minister
of the United Kingdom
at the time of its exploration by Europeans.
The higher parts of the Liverpool Range reach approximately 1,300 metres (4,265 feet) above sea level, and the range formed a significant barrier to the expansion of settlement in the early period of British settlement in New South Wales.
The first route across the range was Pandora's Pass discovered by Allan Cunningham
. This is located near the western end of the range, north from the town of Coolah and within Coolah Tops National Park
. The crossing used by the New England Highway
is Nowlands Gap
(otherwise known as Murrurundi Gap), which crosses the range near its east end. The railway from Newcastle
to Werris Creek crosses under this pass via Ardglen Tunnel
.
The southern slopes of the Liverpool Range are drained by the headwaters of the Hunter River
and its tributaries, such as the Pages River, which flows through the town of Murrurundi. The northern slopes are drained by the headwaters of the Peel River and the Mooki River
. The Talbragar River
and the Coolaburragundy River
also rise on the range and flow south-west, joining near the town of Dunedoo
.
The Liverpool Range has a reputation as a breeding ground for severe summer thunderstorms. The peaks of the range generally experience several snowfalls each winter.
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
and a lava
Lava
Lava refers both to molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption and the resulting rock after solidification and cooling. This molten rock is formed in the interior of some planets, including Earth, and some of their satellites. When first erupted from a volcanic vent, lava is a liquid at...
-field province in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, 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...
.
The Liverpool Range starts from the volcanic plateau
Volcanic plateau
A volcanic plateau is a plateau produced by volcanic activity. There are two main types: lava plateaus and pyroclastic plateaus.-Lava plateau:...
known as the Barrington Tops and runs for about 100 km westwards, forming the northern boundary of the Hunter Valley
Hunter Valley
The Hunter Region, more commonly known as the Hunter Valley, is a region of New South Wales, Australia, extending from approximately to north of Sydney with an approximate population of 645,395 people. Most of the population of the Hunter Region lives within of the coast, with 55% of the entire...
district. Parts of the Liverpool Range form the watershed between the coastal and inland drainage of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and thus form a component of the Great Dividing Range
Great Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest in the world. The range stretches more than 3,500 km from Dauan Island off the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through...
. The western end of the Liverpool Range merges into the Warrumbungle Range.
The Liverpool Range was named after Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, who was the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
at the time of its exploration by Europeans.
The higher parts of the Liverpool Range reach approximately 1,300 metres (4,265 feet) above sea level, and the range formed a significant barrier to the expansion of settlement in the early period of British settlement in New South Wales.
The first route across the range was Pandora's Pass discovered by Allan Cunningham
Allan Cunningham (botanist)
Allan Cunningham was an English botanist and explorer, primarily known for his travels in New South Wales to collect plants.- Early life :...
. This is located near the western end of the range, north from the town of Coolah and within Coolah Tops National Park
Coolah Tops National Park
Coolah Tops is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 258 km northwest of Sydney, established on 5 July 1996. It is managed by the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. Its World Conservation Union category is II...
. The crossing used by the New England Highway
New England Highway
The New England Highway is a highway in Australia running from Hexham near Newcastle at its southern end to Yarraman near Toowoomba at its northern end. At its southern end it connects to the Pacific Highway and at its northern end it connects to the D'Aguilar Highway. It traverses the Hunter...
is Nowlands Gap
Nowlands Gap
Nowlands Gap, also known as Nowlands Pass and Murrurundi Gap, is a pass over the Liverpool Range in central NSW Australia.William Nowland discovered Nowlands Gap north of Murrurundi in 1827. His route eventually became part of the Great North Road...
(otherwise known as Murrurundi Gap), which crosses the range near its east end. The railway from Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
to Werris Creek crosses under this pass via Ardglen Tunnel
Ardglen Tunnel
The Ardglen Tunnel is a summit tunnel on the Main North railway in New South Wales, Australia, between Newcastle and Werris Creek. It crosses under the Liverpool Range near its east end below Nowlands Gap , the crossing used by the New England Highway.It is approximately 500 metres long, and...
.
The southern slopes of the Liverpool Range are drained by the headwaters of the Hunter River
Hunter River
The Hunter River is a major river in New South Wales, Australia. The Hunter River rises in the Liverpool Range and flows generally south and then east, reaching the Pacific Ocean at Newcastle, the second largest city in New South Wales and a major port....
and its tributaries, such as the Pages River, which flows through the town of Murrurundi. The northern slopes are drained by the headwaters of the Peel River and the Mooki River
Mooki River
The Mooki River is a river in northern New South Wales, Australia.The Mooki River is the main river of the western half of the Liverpool Plains. Its headwaters rise on the northern slopes of the Liverpool Range and Coolah Tops, and flow northwards....
. The Talbragar River
Talbragar River
The Talbragar River is a river in New South Wales, Australia. It starts on the western side of the Liverpool Range near Cassilis and flows west to join the Macquarie River near Dubbo. The Talbragar does not start in a high rainfall area and is not much of a river at all really. It was first...
and the Coolaburragundy River
Coolaburragundy River
The Coolaburragundy River is a river in New South Wales, Australia.The river rises on the south-west slopes of the Liverpool Range, about 15 kilometres north-east of the town of Coolah, New South Wales. One of the head-streams of the river drains Pandoras Pass. Runoff from Coolah Tops National...
also rise on the range and flow south-west, joining near the town of Dunedoo
Dunedoo, New South Wales
Dunedoo ) is a village of 836 inhabitants situated within the Warrumbungle Shire of central western New South Wales, Australia. Dunedoo is well known to Australian travellers due to its distinctive name...
.
The Liverpool Range has a reputation as a breeding ground for severe summer thunderstorms. The peaks of the range generally experience several snowfalls each winter.