Werakata National Park
Encyclopedia
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
.
South of the national park is the separate Werakata State Conservation Area.
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.
-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:
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 the Hunter Region 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...
, 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 park is located to the north, east and south of the town of Cessnock
Cessnock, New South Wales
Cessnock is a city in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, about by road west of Newcastle. It is the administrative centre of the Cessnock City Council LGA and was named after an 1826 grant of land called Cessnock Estate, which was owned by John Campbell...
(the park is separated into three distinct but closely located sections: near Abermain
Abermain, New South Wales
Abermain is a town located 8 km ENE of Cessnock and 3 km west of Weston, in New South Wales, Australia. Abermain is adjacent to Werakata National Park.-Schools and Education:...
, near Kearsley and near Kitchener
Kitchener, New South Wales
Kitchener is a small town in the City of Cessnock, in the Hunter Region in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Kitchener is located 5 kilometres south of the town of Cessnock, NSW and is adjacent to Werakata National Park and the Aberdare State Forest....
/Abernethy
Abernethy, New South Wales
Abernethy is a small town in the City of Cessnock, in the Hunter Region in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Abernethy is located 8 kilometres south-east of the town of Cessnock, NSW and is adjacent to Werakata National Park and the Aberdare State Forest...
). The park lies within the Hunter Valley Important Bird Area
Hunter Valley Important Bird Area
The Hunter Valley Important Bird Area is a 560 km2 tract of land around Cessnock in central-eastern New South Wales, Australia.-Description:...
.
South of the national park is the separate Werakata State Conservation Area.
History
Originally called Lower Hunter National Park, 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).The Werakata State Conservation Area was created in 2007 (with an area of 2,257 hectares).
The Hunter region was inhabited by the Awabakal
Awabakal people
The Awabakal are an Indigenous Australian people of coastal New South Wales.Awaba is the word for Lake Macquarie – Awabakal therefore meaning people of Lake Macquarie...
, Worimi
Worimi people
Worimi people are Indigenous Australians from the eastern Port Stephens and Great Lakes regions of coastal New South Wales, Australia. Before contact with settlers, their people extended from Port Stephens in the south to Forster/Tuncurry in the north and as far west as Gloucester...
, Wonnarua
Wonnarua
The Wonnarua people are an Aboriginal Australian people whose territory is located in the Hunter Valley of Australia.-External links:* Accessed 15 May 2010* Accessed 15 May 2010* Accessed 16 May 2010...
, Geawegal, Birrpai and Darkinjung
Darkinjung people
The Darkinjung are the in the Wyong and area and is a major landowner on the Central Coast, participating in formal joint management of some areas of state forest in the region. It represents over 450 local Aboriginal residents...
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.
Flora and fauna
When the park was first gazetted, the Spotted GumCorymbia maculata
Corymbia maculata , commonly known as Spotted Gum, is an endemic Australian tree.-Description:Spotted Gum is a medium to tall tree with a straight trunk, growing up to 70 metres in height. However, there is an old reference to a 91 metre tall tree...
-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:
- the Squirrel GliderSquirrel GliderThe Squirrel Glider is a nocturnal gliding possum, one of the wrist-winged gliders of the genus Petaurus.-Habitat:...
- Grey-headed Flying FoxGrey-headed Flying FoxThe Grey-headed Flying-Fox, Pteropus poliocephalus, is a megabat native to Australia.Members of the genus Pteropus include the largest bats in the world. The Pteropus genus has currently about 57 recognised species....
- Regent HoneyeaterRegent HoneyeaterThe Regent Honeyeater, Xanthomyza phrygia, is an endangered bird endemic to Australia. It feeds on nectar and insects within eucalyptus forests. Recent genetic research suggests it is closely related to the wattlebirds.-Distribution:...
- Swift ParrotSwift ParrotThe Swift Parrot breeds in Tasmania and migrates north to south eastern Australia from Griffith-Warialda in New South Wales and west to Adelaide in the winter. It is related to the rosellas, with the feeding habits of a lorikeet...
Other features
- Astills Picnic Area
- Kurri Sand Swamp Woodland.
- Bushwalking (walking up to Tomalpin hill)
- Bicycle trails (leave from Astills picnic area, along Deadmans Trail and return to the picnic area via Gibsons Road).
- An old Forestry Hut (off Old Maitland Road).