Editing Fitzgerald River National Park

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                   = protected
| name                   = Fitzgerald River National Park
| state                  = wa
| iucn_category          = II
| image                  = Gairdnerriver.jpg
| caption                = [[Gairdner River]] in the National Park
| image_alt              = 
| local_map   = yes
| zoom        = 8
| coordinates            = {{coord|33|56|51|S|119|36|55|E|display=inline,title}}
| relief                 = yes
| pushpin_label_position = top
| map_alt                = 
| nearest_town_or_city   = 
| area                   = 2972.11
| area_footnotes         = <ref name="ParkAreas">{{cite journal|year=2010 |title=Department of Environment and Conservation 2009–2010 Annual Report |journal=Annual Report |pages=48 |publisher=Department of Environment and Conservation |issn=1835-114X |url=http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/6139/2345/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111124319/http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/6139/2345/ |archive-date=11 January 2011 }}</ref>
| established            = 1973
| established_footnotes  = 
| visitation_num         = 40000
| visitation_year        = 2008
| visitation_footnotes   = 
| managing_authorities   = [[Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia)|Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions]]
| url                    = https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/fitzgerald-river
}}
[[File:Fitzgerald River National Park.jpg|thumb|right|Fitzgerald River National Park from Point Ann]]
[[Image:Fitzgerald River National Park Royal hakea DSC04449.JPG|thumb|right|[[Hakea victoria|Royal Hakea]]]]
'''Fitzgerald River National Park''' is a national park in the [[Shire of Ravensthorpe|Shires of Ravensthorpe]] and the [[Shire of Jerramungup]] in [[Western Australia]], {{convert|419|km}} southeast of [[Perth]]. The park is recognised on [[National Heritage List (Australia)|Australia's National Heritage List]] for its outstanding diversity of native plant species, including many plants which are unique to the local area.<ref>{{Cite web|title=National Heritage Places – Fitzgerald River National Park – DAWE|url=https://www.awe.gov.au/parks-heritage/heritage/places/national/fitzgerald-river-national-park|access-date=2021-12-11|website=awe.gov.au}}</ref> Although the park only occupies 0.2 percent of Western Australia's land surface, it is home to over 20% of the state's native plant species.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fitzgerald River National Park|url=https://www.fitzgeraldcoast.com.au/explore/fitzgerald-river-national-park.aspx#:~:text=The%20Fitzgerald%20River%20National%20Park,magnificent%20stretches%20of%20Australian%20coast.|work=fitzgeraldcoast.com.au}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on Our Doorstep|url=https://www.greenhaventouristpark.com.au/fitzgerald-river-national-park/|work=|date=|first=|last=}}</ref>

There is also an eponymous [[Suburbs and localities (Australia)|locality]], stretching across the shires of [[Shire of Jerramungup|Jerramungup]] and [[Shire of Ravensthorpe|Ravensthorpe]], but the boundaries of the national park and the locality are not identical.<ref name=Slipmap >{{cite web |url=https://maps.slip.wa.gov.au/landgate/locate/ |title=SLIP Map |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=maps.slip.wa.gov.au |publisher=[[Landgate]] |access-date=25 September 2024 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/capad2022-terrestrial-wa.xlsx |title=Terrestrial CAPAD 2022 WA summary |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=www.dcceew.gov.au/ |publisher=[[Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water]] |access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/dashboard |title=Australian Protected Areas Dashboard |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=www.dcceew.gov.au/ |publisher=[[Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water]] |access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref>

==Description==
The park includes the Barren Mountains ([[East Mount Barren|East]], Middle, and [[West Mount Barren]]), the Eyre Range and the [[Fitzgerald River (Western Australia)|Fitzgerald River]] as well as incorporating the [[Fitzgerald Biosphere]]. There are 62 plant species which are unique to the {{convert|329882|ha}} 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 {{convert|80|km|abbr=on}} of roads within the park, construct a walking trail from [[Bremer Bay, Western Australia|Bremer Bay]] to [[Hopetoun, Western Australia|Hopetoun]], and upgrade existing recreational facilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/aa/releases/2009/December/aa552_2009.htm|title=Media Release – $20 Million Investment in Fitzgerald River National Park|year=2009|access-date=21 May 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220002755/http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/aa/releases/2009/December/aa552_2009.htm|archive-date=20 February 2011}}</ref>

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 [[John Hassell (settler)|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, Western Australia|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]]''.

The northwest precinct of the park is referred to as ''Twertup'', a name applied to several plants and features of the landscape. The Twertup Field Studies Centre, so named, previously occupied a former residence known as Twertup Cottage until the spongolite construction was destroyed by fire. Twertup is given in formal names associated with the area, for the watercourse Twertup Creek, a road, and several plant taxa, the Twertup mallee ''[[Eucalyptus arborella]]'', Twertup feather-flower ''[[Verticordia crebra]]'', and ''Leucopogon'' sp. Twertup for an unknown species described by [[K.R. Newbey]]<!-- Kenneth Newbey --> that was found in the area.<ref name="Bulletin47-4">{{cite web |title=Bulletin 47-4 Twertup |url=https://www.gsdc.wa.gov.au/information/gsdc-bulletin/bulletin-47-4-twertup/ |website=gsdc.wa.gov.au |publisher=Great Southern Development Commissionwa.gov.au}}</ref><ref name="nrm">{{cite web |title=Projects : NRM WA. 15027: Twertup Field Studies Centre: utilities, cooking area and nature walks |url=http://www.nrm.wa.gov.au/projects/15027.aspx |website=nrm.wa.gov.au |publisher=wa.gov.au}}</ref><ref>{{FloraBase|id=19516}}</ref> The nineteenth century author [[Ethel Hassell]], who lived nearby at [[Jerramungup]] station, gives a chapter with this title. A warning that the young woman should avoid staying in the area, while heeded, was mysterious about the actual threat. This was later explained by Hassel's Nyungar friend, Gimbuck, who now advised her to sleep with two fires and away from water because of the reputation of groups of 'wild dogs' ([[dingo]]s) in the area; this practical concern was accompanied by the ancestral story of their abundance.<ref name="Izett2014">{{cite web|last=Izett|first=Erica Kaye|date=2014|url=https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/publications/breaking-new-ground-early-australian-ethnography-in-colonial-wome|title=Breaking new ground: early Australian ethnography in colonial women's writing|publisher=[[University of Western Australia]] (PhD thesis)|access-date=9 November 2018}}</ref>

In February 2023, a [[2023 Coulson Aviation crash|Coulson Aviation]] [[Boeing 737-300]] crashed while fighting fires in the national park; both pilots survived the crash.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-07 |title=2 pilots walk away from Boeing 737 tanker crash in Australia |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/2-pilots-walk-away-from-boeing-737-tanker-crash-in-australia/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

==Flora and fauna==
The park forms the basis of the internationally recognised Biosphere Reserve recognised by the [[UNESCO]] [[Man and the Biosphere Programme]]. The latest floral inventory lists 1693 taxa of plants with 250 of these being rare and 62 being known to be found only within the confines of the park.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Damien|first=Rathbone|date=2013|title=Flora Survey of the Coastal Catchments and Ranges of the Fitzgerald River National Park|url=https://library.dbca.wa.gov.au/static/FullTextFiles/627702.pdf}}</ref> Some species of interest include the [[Hakea victoria|royal hakea]], [[Pimelea physodes|qualup bell]], [[scarlet banksia]], [[showy banksia]], [[Bell-fruited Mallee|bell-fruit mallee]], [[pea flower]]s, [[Verticordia|feather flower]]s, many species of [[eucalypt]]s and bottlebrushes (''[[Callistemon]]'' and [[Beaufortia (plant)|''Beaufortia'']]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/speech/matters-public-interest-fitzgerald-river-national-park-whaling|title=Matters of Public Interest – Fitzgerald River National Park & Whaling|year=2009|access-date=21 May 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313054208/http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/speech/matters-public-interest-fitzgerald-river-national-park-whaling|archive-date=13 March 2011}}</ref>

Three populations of the [[Eucalyptus|crowned mallee]] all exist within the park and have a total number of 140 trees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/2308-conservation-advice.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606104343/http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/2308-conservation-advice.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-06 |url-status=live|title=Approved conservation advice for Eucalyptus coronata|year=2009|access-date=21 May 2010}}</ref>
An endangered species, ''[[Boronia|Boronia clavata]]'', has five populations totalling only 100 individuals all of which are located in the area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=5538|title=Biodiversity – Species profile – Bremer Boronia|year=2009|access-date=1 May 2010}}</ref> Another two endangered species, the [[Ricinocarpos|barrens wedding bush]] and the [[Grevillea|fan-leaf grevillea]], are also found within the park although in the case of the barrens wedding bush, not exclusively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/19931-conservation-advice.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606102410/http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/19931-conservation-advice.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-06 |url-status=live|title=Approved conservation advice for Ricinocarpos trichophorus|year=2008|access-date=21 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/5772-conservation-advice.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606101747/http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/5772-conservation-advice.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-06 |url-status=live|title=Approved conservation advice for Grevillea Infundibularis|year=2008|access-date=21 May 2010}}</ref>

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]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm |title=IBA: Fitzgerald River |access-date=20 June 2011 |work=Birdata |publisher=Birds Australia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706102341/http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm |archive-date=6 July 2011 }}</ref> some of the rarer species are the [[western bristlebird]], [[western ground parrot]] and the [[western whipbird]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,105/Itemid,755/|title=Department of Environment Park Fnder – Fitzgerald River National Park|year=2008|access-date=26 May 2010}}</ref> The endangered [[malleefowl]] is also known to inhabit the park with seven known and recorded sightings having been made in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=934|title=Biodiversity – Species profile – Leipoa ocellata|year=2010|access-date=26 May 2010}}</ref>
Some of the mammals found are the very rare [[dibbler]] and the [[Heath mouse|heath rat]], both of which were thought 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ravensthorpecaravanpark.com.au/fitzgerald_river/national_park.html|title=Ravensthorpe Caravan Park – Fitzgerald River National Park|year=2008|access-date=26 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216234103/http://ravensthorpecaravanpark.com.au/fitzgerald_river/national_park.html|archive-date=16 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Other species such as the [[quenda]], [[chuditch]] and the [[red-tailed phascogale]] also inhabit the area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clickforaustralia.com/wa_southwest.htm|title=Southern Western Australia – An Eco Paradise|year=2009|access-date=26 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203214300/http://clickforaustralia.com/wa_southwest.htm|archive-date=3 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Migratory bird]]s find refuge in the wetland and coastal regions and species that temporarily inhabit the area include the [[white-bellied sea eagle]], [[Pacific swift]], and the [[Caspian tern]].

<gallery>
Image:Fitzgerald River National Park DSC04433.JPG|Barren Mountain Range
Image:Fitzgerald River National Park DSC04436.JPG|Looking south towards the coast.
Image:Fitzgerald River National Park Homstead DSC04438.JPG|Quaalup Homestead
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Protected areas of Western Australia]]
*[[List of biosphere reserves in Australia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
* [https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/fitzgerald-river/ Fitzgerald River National Park]

{{National Parks of Western Australia}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:National parks of Western Australia]]
[[Category:Biosphere reserves of Australia]]
[[Category:Great Southern (Western Australia)]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1973]]
[[Category:South coast of Western Australia]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Western Australia]]
[[Category:Australian National Heritage List]]
[[Category:Shire of Ravensthorpe]]