Boodjamulla National Park: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 22:11, 6 April 2025

Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Infobox Australian place Boodjamulla National Park, formerly known as Lawn Hill National Park, is a national park in the Shire of Burke, Queensland, Australia. The Riversleigh World Heritage Area is a World Heritage Site within the park.

The park lies on the traditional land of the Waanyi (part of which was previously part of Injilarija land). In the 1870s European settlers moved into the area and started running cattle, with a number of smaller properties amalgamated to create Lawn Hill Station, one of Queensland's largest cattle stations. An area of station land was given by the owner to the government as Crown land in 1984 (with a further grant in 1992), to be used for public benefit. The Waanyi people were granted native title in 2010.

The land lies across sandstone ranges, with creeks and rivers crossing it. The outstanding attraction is Lawn Hill Gorge. The park is home to a wide range of native wildlife, and is classified as an Important Bird Area.

Template:As of the park is jointly managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the Waanyi people.

History

The Waanyi have lived in the gorge area for at least 17,000 years and know this place as Boodjamulla,<ref name="xqnp"/> or Rainbow Serpent country. Lawn Hill Gorge is sacred to the Waanyi people. Midden heaps, camp sites, grinding stones, and rock art evidence the importance of this place. Today, the Waanyi people help manage the park.Template:Cn Part of the land around Lawn Hill was occupied by the Injilarija people, until they became extinct around 1880 and the Waanyi took over their land.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The park has a rich pastoral history and until December 1984 was part of Lawn Hill Station, which was once one of Queensland's largest cattle properties.<ref name="xqnp"/> The cattle station was formed from several leases originally granted in the 1870s,<ref name = "gorgeous"/> and for some time was run by the notoriously cruel Jack Watson and Frank Hann, who regularly hunted down and shot Aboriginal people living in the area, cutting the ears of their corpses and nailing them to the walls of the homestead.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>Template:Page number needed The Aboriginal outlaw Joe Flick shot dead a Native Police officer and wounded Frank Hann during a shootout at Lawn Hill in 1889.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Sebastião Ferreira Maia, who owned that station from 1976, returned Template:Convert on the lease to the state in 1984, on the condition it be managed for the public's benefit. In 1992, another Template:Convert was given to the crown to extend the park's boundaries.<ref name = "gorgeous"/>

The Riversleigh and Musselbrook sections were amalgamated into the park in 1992.<ref name="gorgeous" /><ref name="xqnp"/>

The national park was gazetted on 8 August 1994 under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 by regulation, Nature Conservation (Declaration of Nature Refuges) Amendment (No.1) 1994; then amended by regulation, Nature Conservation (Protected Areas) Amendment (No.5) 1999.and again by Forestry (State Forests) and Nature Conservation (Protected Areas) Amendment (No.1) 2003.<ref name=qpn/>

A native title claim was lodged by the Waanyi people in 1994, which was finally granted in 2010 that they received native title rights over the region.<ref name="Waterson 2022"/>

The park was formerly known as Lawn Hill National Park.<ref name="Waterson 2022"/><ref name=qpn/> On 7 June 2022 the new Boodjamulla National Park Management Plan was published, officially introducing joint management of the park between the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the Waanyi people.<ref name="Waterson 2022">Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

The park is in the Gulf Country region of northwestern Queensland. The park is Template:Convert northwest of Mount Isa or Template:Convert northwest of Brisbane,Template:Cn in the Shire of Burke in Queensland.<ref name=qpn>Template:Cite QPN</ref>

The main attractions in the park are the sandstone ranges with deep gorges and a limestone plateau with significant fossil fields. Other attractions include crystal-clear green waters, lush vegetation and canoeing. Surrounding the park are numerous resources reserves, set aside for mineral exploration and mining.<ref>The Century Mine is located just east of the park. It was opened in 1997. Template:Cite web Template:Cite web</ref>

Description

File:Lawn Hill Gorge.JPG

Lawn Hill Gorge

The Riversleigh Fossil Fields Section of the park is a World Heritage Site and contains many fossil remains. Animal bones dating back 25 million years are preserved in the sediments.<ref name=official>Template:Cite web</ref>

The park contains several permanent creeks, waterholes, gorges, and sandstone ranges. Boodjamulla's ancient sandstones and limestones have been gradually stripped away over millions of years leaving behind rugged escarpments, gorges, and rock outcrops. There are four main habitats contained with the park: riverine, alluvial flats, rocky hills, and clay plains.<ref name="gorgeous">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Lawn Hill Gorge, the primary attraction in the park, cuts through the sandstone plateau of the Constance Range,<ref name="discover">Template:Cite book</ref> on the eastern extremity of the Barkly Tableland.<ref name="xqnp"/> The gorge has been carved out by Lawn Hill Creek, which flows all year and is fed by numerous freshwater springs from the limestone plateau to the west. The gorge is a rich oasis with cabbage palms and other tropical vegetation.Template:Cn

Also located in the park are the Gregory River and O'Shanassy Rivers which flow all year round.<ref name="explore">Template:Cite book</ref> The park contains Template:Convert of walking tracks.<ref name="xqnp"/>

File:Indarri Falls at Lawn Hill National Park.JPG

Indarri Falls

Environment

Flora

On the sandstone hills are spinifex, acacias, eucalypts and grevilleas.<ref name = "gorgeous"/><ref name = "explore"/> Growing on the river plains are western bloodwoods and mitchell grass.<ref name = "explore"/> Paperbarks, river red gums, figs, ferns, pandanus and cabbage palms are found along the creek and river banks.<ref name = "gorgeous"/><ref name="explore" /> A diverse range of aquatic plants such as waterlilies, ferns, mosses, sedges and bulrushes grow in the creeks.<ref name="xqnp"/>

Fauna

Freshwater crocodiles can be found in the gorge; however, they pose little threat because they prefer to stay away from humans.<ref name="discover" /> They may become aggressive if disturbed when mating or protecting their young.<ref name="xqnp"/>

The park is home to the most easterly distribution of the nocturnal rock ringtail possum.<ref name="xqnp"/> Other animal species found in the park include the rock-haunting ringtail possum, agile wallaby, olive python, catfish, wallaroo, dingo, and echidna. In the creeks are archerfish, the endangered red-bellied short-necked turtles, northern snapping turtles as well as numerous fish species.<ref name="xqnp"/>

Fishing in the national park is not permitted with the exception of Gregory River in the Riversleigh section.<ref name="xqnp"/> Lawn Hill and the surrounding regions are also inhabited by feral pigs which cause extensive damage to the land close by the creek systems.<ref name="abc">Template:Cite news</ref>

Birds

The park is classified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area. It is home to more than 140 bird species,<ref name="xqnp"/> including the buff-sided robin, great bowerbird, red-collared lorikeet, crimson finch, zebra finch, kestrel, spinifex pigeon, barking owl, brolga, budgerigars, and the wedge-tailed eagle. It supports a large population of the Carpentarian grasswren and small numbers of the painted honeyeater.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The rare purple-crowned fairy-wren is the park emblem.<ref name = "explore"/>

Management

Since 7 June 2022, the park has been jointly managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the Waanyi people. At this time, there were five or six Indigenous rangers, with the number expected to increase.<ref name="Waterson 2022"/>

Access

The park is 100 km west of Gregory. From Mount Isa visitors travel along the Barkly Highway north. The easiest way to get to the park is via the Burke & Wills Roadhouse.<ref name="lpgt">Template:Cite web</ref> The road is unsealed and may be impassable after rain. The wet season is from October to March. Because the park is so remote it is advised that visitors bring excess fuel, food and water.<ref name="xqnp">Template:Cite book</ref>

Camping

Camping is allowed in two areas; Lawn Hill Gorge and Miyumba bush camp near the Gregory River. The Lawn Hill Gorge site provides toilets and showers. This site allows only one vehicle per camp site and is not suitable for caravans or vehicles larger than 4 m in length. Permits are required and bookings are essential from Easter to October.<ref name="xqnp"/>