Mungo National Park
Encyclopedia
Mungo National Park is an isolated national park
in south-western New South Wales
, Australia
, 876 km west of Sydney, in the Balranald Shire
. It is part of the Willandra Lakes Region
, a World Heritage Site
covering 2,400 square kilometres, and incorporating seventeen dry lakes. This park is about 75 kilometres south-east of Pooncarie
, 110 km north-east of Mildura, Victoria
and approximately 145 km south-west of Ivanhoe
. The roads to, in or around the park may become impassable during or after rain.
The central feature of Mungo National Park is Lake Mungo
, the second largest of the ancient dry lakes. Mungo National Park is most significant for the archeological remains
which have been discovered there. The remains of Mungo Man, the oldest human remains discovered in Australia, and Mungo Lady, the oldest known human to have been ritually cremated
, were both discovered within the park. They were buried on the shore of Lake Mungo, beneath the 'Walls of China', a series of lunette
s on the South eastern edge of the lake.
A visitor centre, is located near the old Mungo woolshed and the entrance to the park, where further information and a map may be acquired. A 70 km signposted circular vehicle track allows visitors to drive to the spectacular Walls of China and around the lakes. The shearers' quarters provide bunk accommodation, and a communal kitchen for a daily fee. Camping and other fees may be paid at the visitor centre.
Mungo National Park was acquired for the National Reserve System in 1979 by the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife. This organisation fundraised the $101,000 required to purchase the property. The Foundation also funded a resident archaeologist to work on the site from 1979 to 1983. With funds donated by Dick Smith
, the Foundation established the Mungo Visitors Centre and Laboratory in 1983. With further sponsorship from BHP
, the Foundation implemented the Mungo National Park 60 km long guided vehicle drive in 1990. In 2010 the Foundation is putting together a prospectus to create a new Centre at Mungo for education and research. If this project goes ahead, the Australian architect and winner of the 2002 Pritzker Prize
and 2009 AIA Gold Medal Glen Murcutt, along with Wendy Lewin, will design the building.
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in south-western 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...
, 876 km west of Sydney, in the Balranald Shire
Balranald Shire Council
Balranald Shire is a local government area in the Riverina area of western New South Wales, Australia on the Sturt Highway. It is the location of World Heritage listed Mungo National Park. It includes the towns of Balranald and Euston...
. It is part of the Willandra Lakes Region
Willandra Lakes Region
The Willandra Lakes Region is a World Heritage Site that covers 2,400 square kilometres in south-western New South Wales, Australia.The Region contains important natural and cultural features including exceptional examples of past human civilization including the world's oldest cremation site...
, a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
covering 2,400 square kilometres, and incorporating seventeen dry lakes. This park is about 75 kilometres south-east of Pooncarie
Pooncarie, New South Wales
Pooncarie is a village in south-western New South Wales, Australia in Wentworth Shire. It is on the eastern side of the Darling River between Wentworth and Menindee...
, 110 km north-east of Mildura, Victoria
Mildura, Victoria
Mildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia region, and is on the banks of the Murray River. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.Mildura is a major agricultural centre...
and approximately 145 km south-west of Ivanhoe
Ivanhoe, New South Wales
Ivanhoe is a small township on the Cobb Highway between the Lachlan and Darling rivers in New South Wales, Australia. It is located within the Central Darling Shire local government area. Ivanhoe functions as a service centre for the surrounding area. The township is...
. The roads to, in or around the park may become impassable during or after rain.
The central feature of Mungo National Park is Lake Mungo
Lake Mungo
Lake Mungo is a dry lake in south-western New South Wales, Australia. It is located about 760 km due west of Sydney and 90 km north-east of Mildura. The lake is the central feature of Mungo National Park, and is one of seventeen lakes in the World Heritage listed Willandra Lakes Region...
, the second largest of the ancient dry lakes. Mungo National Park is most significant for the archeological remains
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
which have been discovered there. The remains of Mungo Man, the oldest human remains discovered in Australia, and Mungo Lady, the oldest known human to have been ritually cremated
Cremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
, were both discovered within the park. They were buried on the shore of Lake Mungo, beneath the 'Walls of China', a series of lunette
Lunette
In architecture, a lunette is a half-moon shaped space, either filled with recessed masonry or void. A lunette is formed when a horizontal cornice transects a round-headed arch at the level of the imposts, where the arch springs. If a door is set within a round-headed arch, the space within the...
s on the South eastern edge of the lake.
A visitor centre, is located near the old Mungo woolshed and the entrance to the park, where further information and a map may be acquired. A 70 km signposted circular vehicle track allows visitors to drive to the spectacular Walls of China and around the lakes. The shearers' quarters provide bunk accommodation, and a communal kitchen for a daily fee. Camping and other fees may be paid at the visitor centre.
Mungo National Park was acquired for the National Reserve System in 1979 by the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife. This organisation fundraised the $101,000 required to purchase the property. The Foundation also funded a resident archaeologist to work on the site from 1979 to 1983. With funds donated by Dick Smith
Dick Smith
Dick Smith may refer to:*Dick Smith , Australian entrepreneur**Dick Smith , electrical retailer in Australia.**Dick Smith Foods, food brand in Australia*Dick Smith , former player with Manchester United...
, the Foundation established the Mungo Visitors Centre and Laboratory in 1983. With further sponsorship from BHP
Bhp
BHP, or bhp may refer to:*BHP Billiton, Australian based mining company renowned as being the largest mining company in the world**The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, company name 1885-2000**BHP Limited, company name 2000-2001...
, the Foundation implemented the Mungo National Park 60 km long guided vehicle drive in 1990. In 2010 the Foundation is putting together a prospectus to create a new Centre at Mungo for education and research. If this project goes ahead, the Australian architect and winner of the 2002 Pritzker Prize
Pritzker Prize
The Pritzker Architecture Prize is awarded annually by the Hyatt Foundation to honour "a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built...
and 2009 AIA Gold Medal Glen Murcutt, along with Wendy Lewin, will design the building.