Sturt National Park

The Sturt National Park is a protected national park that is located in the arid far north-western corner of New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The Template:Convert national park is situated approximately Template:Convert northwest of Sydney and the nearest town is Template:NSWcity, Template:Convert away.

Established in 1972, the park is named in honour of Charles Sturt, a colonial explorer. The park features typical outback scenery of flat, reddish-brown landscapes.<ref name="cm"/> It was resumed from five pastoral properties.<ref name="smh"/> The Sturt National Park was featured in British documentary called Planet Earth. The Dingo Fence was built along the national park's northern boundary.

Flora

Flora consists mostly of mulga bushland and arid shrubland,<ref name="smh"/> particularly Saltbush.<ref name="SNPLM">Template:Cite web</ref> After good rain the harsh landscape is transformed by the growth of wildflowers including Sturt's desert pea.<ref name="discover">Template:Cite book</ref>

Fauna

Mammals

At least 31 species of mammal have been recorded in the park.<ref name="pom2018">Template:Cite book</ref> The most obvious to visitors include the red kangaroo, western grey kangaroo,<ref name="lon">Template:Cite web</ref> eastern grey kangaroo and Euro.<ref name="pom2018"/> Other terrestrial mammals found at Sturt NP also include the dingo, stripe-faced dunnart, paucident planigale, narrow-nosed planigale, dusky hopping mouse and desert mouse.<ref name="pom2018"/> Nine species of bat have also been recorded in the park, including the eastern long-eared bat,<ref name=deh2>Template:Cite web</ref> little broad-nosed bat, yellow-bellied sheath-tailed bat, inland forest bat and little pied bat.<ref name="pom2018"/> Several introduced pest species occur, including the European fox, European rabbit, feral cat, feral goat and feral pig.<ref name="pom2018"/>

Several mammal species that previously occurred prior to the arrival of Europeans are also being reintroduced into the park.<ref name="pom2018"/><ref name=WDPFS/> These include the Crest-tailed Mulgara, Greater Bilby, Western barred bandicoot, Burrowing bettong, Greater stick-nest rat, Golden bandicoot and Western quoll.<ref name=WDPFS/>

Reptiles and amphibians

At least 67 species of reptile have been recorded in the park.<ref name="pom2018"/> Commonly found species include the central bearded dragon, shingleback, tree dtella and Bynoe's gecko.<ref name="pom2018"/> The Gould's goanna, ringed brown snake, whip snake and mulga snake are also common, but less likely to be seen.<ref name="pom2018"/> Several cryptic species also inhabit the park, such as the Interior blind snake<ref name=deh2/> and woma python.<ref name="pom2018"/>

Several frog species can also be found in the park, including the desert tree frog, common around the residential and accommodation areas, the burrowing frog and the water-holding frog.<ref name="pom2018"/>

Birds

At least 197 bird species have been recorded in the park, with the most obvious to visitors being the emu.<ref name="SNPLM"/> Significant ground-nesting birds include the inland dotterel, stubble quail, Australian pratincole and spotted nightjar.<ref name="pom2018"/> 13 species of parrot, which rely on tree hollows for nesting, have also been recorded in the park. These include flocks of cockatiels, galahs, corellas and less frequently budgerigars that appear after rain events.<ref name="pom2018"/> A wide variety of birds of prey are also present in the park, including the wedge-tailed eagle, black-breasted buzzard, Grey falcon, Australian hobby and nankeen kestrel.<ref name="pom2018"/>

The Ramsar-listed Lake Pinaroo, present within the park, also acts as an important stopover and drought refuge for at least 40 species of waterbird, including several threatened species, such as the Australian painted-snipe.<ref name="pom2018"/> Other waterbird species also include the Freckled duck, Blue-billed duck<ref name=deh2/> and Caspian tern.<ref name="pom2018"/>

Invertebrates

Ants, termites, native bees and spiders are all common within the park, however existing knowledge of species and interactions are poor.<ref name="pom2018"/> The aquatic invertebrates found in the park include the common yabby and freshwater crab, while populations of shield shrimp can commonly be found in temporary water pools after rain events.<ref name="pom2018"/>

Attractions

The park contains aboriginal middens and stone relics.<ref name="discover"/> There are many walking trails and an extensive network of roads. Most roads in the park are gravel with some sandy stretches and can be driven on with a conventional vehicle.<ref name="discover"/> A 4WD vehicle is needed after heavy rains.

In the east of the park are flood plains, dotted with occasional trees which then give way to small rocky gorges and creek beds. Located here is Mount Wood, Gorge Lookout and the Mount Wood camping ground.<ref name="discover"/>

File:Mt Wood shearers quarters Sturt NP after 10mm of rain.jpg

The Mt. Wood shearers quarters after 10mm of rain

Towards the middle of the park, The Olive Downs, or "Jump Up" country has flat topped mesas rising up to Template:Convert above the surrounding plains, granite outcrops and flat valleys.<ref name="cm"/> The Jump Ups are the remains of an ancient mountain range.<ref name="cm">Template:Cite news</ref> The park's second camping site called Dead Horse Gully camping ground is located here.<ref name="discover"/> Amongst the boulders north of Tibooburra is another camping ground. All camp grounds have toilets, gas barbecues and water provided.<ref name="smh">Template:Cite news</ref>

In the far west of the national park, the gibber plains are replaced by sandhills of the Strzelecki Desert. Cameron Corner is a remote but popular tourist destination where the states of New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland meet. Also in this part of the park is Fort Grey—the fourth camp ground and a heritage site. The holding yards visible here and a remnant from the explorer Charles Sturt.<ref name="discover"/> The fort is a stockade that was built to protect Sturt's supplies and prevent the exploration party's sheep from wandering away.<ref name="smh"/> While searching for a fabled inland sea, Captain Charles Sturt, after whom the park is named, spent a year in the area.<ref name="discover"/> Fort Grey is sited on the edge of the ephemeral, and Ramsar-listed, Lake Pinaroo - an important breeding and drought refuge for waterbirds when it contains water.<ref name=deh>Template:Cite web</ref>

Heritage listings

The Mount Wood Station is a heritage-listed former cattle station in the national park.<ref name="nswshr-1001">Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref>

Conservation projects

Wild Deserts program

File:Crest-tailed mulgara (Dasycercus cristicauda) closeup.jpg

A Crest-tailed Mulgara, re-discovered in Sturt NP in 2017 during wildlife surveys undertaken as part of the Wild Deserts program

The Wild Deserts program is an ongoing program aiming to reintroduce 7 locally extinct mammals back into Sturt National Park. A partnership between the University of New South Wales and Ecological Horizons, in collaboration with the Office of Environment and Heritage and Taronga Conservation Society, the project is using large fenced exclosures to assist with the reintroduction. The species being reintroduced include the Crest-tailed Mulgara, Greater Bilby, Western barred bandicoot, Burrowing bettong, Greater stick-nest rat, Golden bandicoot and Western quoll.<ref name=WDPFS>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Protected areas of New South Wales
• Mount Wood Station

External links

• Template:Cite book