Weddin Mountains National Park brochure

DECCW 2009/780
ISBN 978 1 74232 461 6
Published December 2009
© Copyright State of NSW and the Department of Environment, Climate Change and
Water NSW. Printed on recycled paper
NPWS Lachlan Area Office: Government Offices, Camp St,
FORBES NSW 2871 ph (02) 6851 4429
General inquiries:
Ph: 1300 361 967 (national parks information / publications)
Fax: (02) 9995 5999 TTY: (02) 9211 4723
Email: info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au
The Weddin Mountains are a crescent shaped range
rising more than 400m above the surrounding
plains. The park covers 8361 hectares and
incorporates virtually the entire Weddin Range. It is
one of a series of conservation reserves in the region
which occur along the Lachlan Fold Belt – a massive
landscape feature which runs from Queensland,
through mid-western NSW and into Victoria.
Holy Camp is 19km south-west of Grenfell. Ben Halls
Camping Ground and Picnic Area is 32km west of Grenfell
with clear signs leading from the Mid Western Highway.
Any trip to Weddin Mountains National Park can’t help but
include a scenic drive. On a clear day, the mountain can be
seen rising above the landscape from over 50 kilometres
away (depending on which direction you’re travelling from).
Watching it gradually loom ever closer is one of the real
treats of a visit to the park.
How to get there
Exploring the park
Similarly the journey around the base of the mountain en
route to the major visitor destinations such as Holy Camp
or Ben Halls Camping Ground and Picnic Area is a striking
feature ideally suited to both bicycle and car touring.
Camping and free barbecues are provided for at
Ben Halls Camping Ground and Picnic Area in the
northwest of the park. Fuzzy box (Eucalyptus conica)
is a listed endangered ecological community found
around this site and visitors are invited to share
in its conservation by enjoying the camping and
picnic area while carefully minimising their impact
on the community. From the campground or
adjacent picnic area you can enjoy a short walk up
Basin Gully to Ben Halls Cave or stroll along to Seatons
Farm where a series of interpretive signs highlight
various points of interest.
Other park highlights include the walk up to the
Peregrine and Eualdrie Lookouts accessed from
Holy Camp on the north eastern edge of the
park or from Ben Halls Camping Ground and
Picnic Area.
Waterholes in areas such as
Basin Gully provide a
valuable resource for
wildlife.
Due to the high number of robberies police began to set
up stations in the area. This initiative was helped by the
introduction of the Felons Act which rendered anyone
helping the bushrangers in any way liable to a 5 year prison
term and loss of all their property. This effectively stopped
many of the bushrangers’ sympathisers from helping them
with food, news and shelter.
Their efforts brought them 2719 ounces of gold and £3,700
in cash (today this equates to just over $1 million in their
saddle bags). The Weddin Mountains were a favoured
haven for bushrangers due to its height and number of
hiding places. The outlaws also avoided robbing from the
adjacent farming community and this helped maintain
local sympathies.
While their method of
gold recovery was slightly
more risky than that used
by the miners (but only just!), their chances of striking it
rich were definitely greater. In 1862, eight bushrangers
including Ben Hall and Frank Gardiner carried out what was
then the greatest robbery in Australian history when they
held up the gold coach outside Eugowra.
Ben Hall
As the goldfields
opened up at
Lambing Flat near
Young and around
Forbes bushrangers
appeared to take
advantage of the area’s
new found riches.
Cultural heritage
The Weddin Mountains appear to have been named after
an Aboriginal word meaning to stop or remain. The park
lies within the territory of the Wiradjuri people and signs of
their long occupation can be found. Carved trees and other
archaeological evidence and fragments of oral history
suggest the Weddin Mountains was a place of great
significance to Aboriginal people.
European settlers began arriving in the district in
1828 and pastoral settlement followed on the
alluvial flats below the Weddin Mountains.
Many new towns were established in the
surrounding area and by 1847, grazing runs
The discovery of gold in
the local region in the
early 1860s ushered in
a colourful era in the
life of the Weddin
Mountains.
Bushrangers and
the mountains
were well established on the fertile plains. Seatons Farm
in the north west of the park is an important relic of the
local pastoral heritage. The property was purchased by
the Seatons at the height of the Great Depression in 1936.
The farm they built is a remarkable example of vernacular
architecture. Constructed from readily available local
materials it was built from secondhand iron, mill off-cuts,
mud and hand-cut timber.
The value placed on materials is evident in their use and
reuse on the farm. Small off- cuts of wire were carefully
stored in the sheds. Walls were formed from sections of
corrugated iron beaten flat to make them go further. In
early January 2006 a bushfire thought to have resulted from
a lightning strike swept through the park causing extensive
damage to the reserve including burning some buildings
and structures at Seatons Farm. Original techniques and
materials have been used to reconstruct some of the
damaged elements.
What’s special about the park
Weddin Mountains National Park consists of a 19km long crescent shaped range rising sharply above the
surrounding plains. This range is broken mid-way along its length by the ‘Weddin Gap’. Clifflines and escarpments
dominate the northern and eastern side of the range, while the gentler slopes to the south and west are
dissected by many steep gullies. The park protects a range of vegetation types typical of the rugged escarpment
areas of the central west. These include woodlands dominated by trees such as mugga ironbark, tumbledown
gum, kurrajong and cypress pine. These communities differ markedly from the
Peregrine
falcon
white box woodlands which once flourished over the alluvial flats
now largely cleared for agricultural purposes. Fortunately some
Bush stoneremnant vegetation links remain across the plains country
curlew
to allow wildlife to move between major reserves such as Weddin
Mountains and its adjacent parks.
Weddin Mountains National Park is remarkably rich in birdlife and supports a known
151 bird species, although the true numbers are likely to be far greater. Large flocks of
the threatened superb parrot have been seen in both the Weddin Mountains and adjacent
agricultural land. Keep your eye out for the peregrine falcon which is often seen circling
the camping area protecting its young nesting in cliff edges and ledges. The eerie
wailing of the bush stone-curlew (which sounds like a baby crying) may keep you up
at night. Australia’s largest bird of prey – the wedge tailed eagle – is also often seen
in the area.
Due to the high number of robberies police began to set
up stations in the area. This initiative was helped by the
introduction of the Felons Act which rendered anyone
helping the bushrangers in any way liable to a 5 year prison
term and loss of all their property. This effectively stopped
many of the bushrangers’ sympathisers from helping them
with food, news and shelter.
Their efforts brought them 2719 ounces of gold and £3,700
in cash (today this equates to just over $1 million in their
saddle bags). The Weddin Mountains were a favoured
haven for bushrangers due to its height and number of
hiding places. The outlaws also avoided robbing from the
adjacent farming community and this helped maintain
local sympathies.
DECCW 2009/780
ISBN 978 1 74232 461 6
Published December 2009
© Copyright State of NSW and the Department of Environment, Climate Change and
Water NSW. Printed on recycled paper
NPWS Lachlan Area Office: Government Offices, Camp St,
FORBES NSW 2871 ph (02) 6851 4429
General inquiries:
Ph: 1300 361 967 (national parks information / publications)
Fax: (02) 9995 5999 TTY: (02) 9211 4723
Email: info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au
Ben Hall
While their method of
gold recovery was slightly
more risky than that used
by the miners (but only just!), their chances of striking it
rich were definitely greater. In 1862, eight bushrangers
including Ben Hall and Frank Gardiner carried out what was
then the greatest robbery in Australian history when they
held up the gold coach outside Eugowra.
As the goldfields
opened up at
Lambing Flat near
Young and around
Forbes bushrangers
appeared to take
advantage of the area’s
new found riches.
Any trip to Weddin Mountains National Park can’t help but
include a scenic drive. On a clear day, the mountain can be
seen rising above the landscape from over 50 kilometres
away (depending on which direction you’re travelling from).
Watching it gradually loom ever closer is one of the real
treats of a visit to the park.
Holy Camp is 19km south-west of Grenfell. Ben Halls
Camping Ground and Picnic Area is 32km west of Grenfell
with clear signs leading from the Mid Western Highway.
Similarly the journey around the base of the mountain en
route to the major visitor destinations such as Holy Camp
or Ben Halls Camping Ground and Picnic Area is a striking
feature ideally suited to both bicycle and car touring.
Camping and free barbecues are provided for at
Ben Halls Camping Ground and Picnic Area in the
northwest of the park. Fuzzy box (Eucalyptus conica)
is a listed endangered ecological community found
around this site and visitors are invited to share
in its conservation by enjoying the camping and
picnic area while carefully minimising their impact
on the community. From the campground or
adjacent picnic area you can enjoy a short walk up
Basin Gully to Ben Halls Cave or stroll along to Seatons
Farm where a series of interpretive signs highlight
various points of interest.
Other park highlights include the walk up to the
Peregrine and Eualdrie Lookouts accessed from
Holy Camp on the north eastern edge of the
park or from Ben Halls Camping Ground and
Picnic Area.
Waterholes in areas such as
Basin Gully provide a
valuable resource for
wildlife.
Cultural heritage
The Weddin Mountains appear to have been named after
an Aboriginal word meaning to stop or remain. The park
lies within the territory of the Wiradjuri people and signs of
their long occupation can be found. Carved trees and other
archaeological evidence and fragments of oral history
suggest the Weddin Mountains was a place of great
significance to Aboriginal people.
European settlers began arriving in the district in
1828 and pastoral settlement followed on the
alluvial flats below the Weddin Mountains.
Many new towns were established in the
surrounding area and by 1847, grazing runs
Bushrangers and
the mountains
The Weddin Mountains are a crescent shaped range
rising more than 400m above the surrounding
plains. The park covers 8361 hectares and
incorporates virtually the entire Weddin Range. It is
one of a series of conservation reserves in the region
which occur along the Lachlan Fold Belt – a massive
landscape feature which runs from Queensland,
through mid-western NSW and into Victoria.
How to get there
The discovery of gold in
the local region in the
early 1860s ushered in
a colourful era in the
life of the Weddin
Mountains.
Exploring the park
were well established on the fertile plains. Seatons Farm
in the north west of the park is an important relic of the
local pastoral heritage. The property was purchased by
the Seatons at the height of the Great Depression in 1936.
The farm they built is a remarkable example of vernacular
architecture. Constructed from readily available local
materials it was built from secondhand iron, mill off-cuts,
mud and hand-cut timber.
The value placed on materials is evident in their use and
reuse on the farm. Small off- cuts of wire were carefully
stored in the sheds. Walls were formed from sections of
corrugated iron beaten flat to make them go further. In
early January 2006 a bushfire thought to have resulted from
a lightning strike swept through the park causing extensive
damage to the reserve including burning some buildings
and structures at Seatons Farm. Original techniques and
materials have been used to reconstruct some of the
damaged elements.
What’s special about the park
Weddin Mountains National Park consists of a 19km long crescent shaped range rising sharply above the
surrounding plains. This range is broken mid-way along its length by the ‘Weddin Gap’. Clifflines and escarpments
dominate the northern and eastern side of the range, while the gentler slopes to the south and west are
dissected by many steep gullies. The park protects a range of vegetation types typical of the rugged escarpment
areas of the central west. These include woodlands dominated by trees such as mugga ironbark, tumbledown
gum, kurrajong and cypress pine. These communities differ markedly from the
Peregrine
falcon
white box woodlands which once flourished over the alluvial flats
now largely cleared for agricultural purposes. Fortunately some
Bush stoneremnant vegetation links remain across the plains country
curlew
to allow wildlife to move between major reserves such as Weddin
Mountains and its adjacent parks.
Weddin Mountains National Park is remarkably rich in birdlife and supports a known
151 bird species, although the true numbers are likely to be far greater. Large flocks of
the threatened superb parrot have been seen in both the Weddin Mountains and adjacent
agricultural land. Keep your eye out for the peregrine falcon which is often seen circling
the camping area protecting its young nesting in cliff edges and ledges. The eerie
wailing of the bush stone-curlew (which sounds like a baby crying) may keep you up
at night. Australia’s largest bird of prey – the wedge tailed eagle – is also often seen
in the area.
Walking Tracks
Ben Halls Cave Track: 1.5km, half hour return. Easy – Medium.
Cast your mind back to the bushrangers heading their horses up into the hidden back and byways of the
mountain range on this walk. Imagine scrambling up the adjacent escarpment areas to keep a watch out
for parties of troopers approaching across the plains to the west. A pleasant stroll up the hill behind the
camping area to a large rock overhang with views.
Lynchs Loop Walk: 2.5km, 1–2hr return. Medium – Hard.
A steady graded climb through open woodland to the edge of the western escarpment and a vast view
over the plains.
Berthas Gully: 3km, 2.5hr return. Medium.
A pleasant walk up into the cool gully. Enjoy the stunning display of springtime wildflowers.
Weddin Gap –Black Spring Loop Track: 20km loop, 10–12hr return. Medium.
After leaving your vehicle in the Weddin State Forest, you can follow this old coach road through the
saddle of the range and out to Black Spring Mountain. This is the longest loop track in the park along
a cleared fire trail and should only be attempted if you have a full day, or you could camp overnight
underneath the stars at one of the many scenic locations along the trail. A steep climb up Weddin Gap
Fire Trail will take you to the start of the Black Spring Fire Trail which leads to the top of the range where
spectacular views across the surrounding plains can be seen. Continue along this trail enjoying the views
along the eastern escarpment. Keep an eye out for the township of Grenfell in the distance. Return to
your starting point along Stoney Creek Trail.
Eualdrie Walking Track: 2.6km, 2.5hr return. Hard.
Follow an old logging track from Holy Camp to the base of the mountain. From here the marked track
climbs steeply to Peregrine Lookout with good views of rugged clifflines and peregrine falcon roosts.
On from Peregrine Lookout the track leads through heath and woodland with spectacular displays of
springtime flowers. At Eualdrie Lookout enjoy the views across the surrounding plains to Conimbla
National Park in the north east.
Basin Gully to Eualdrie Lookout Track: 4.5km, 3.5hr walk one way. Medium – Hard.
An adventurous hike up to Eualdrie Lookout at the top of this range. Start from Ben Halls Camping Area
and follow a marked trail through rugged terrain to the spectacular Eualdrie Lookout. You can return the
same way or keep going to Peregrine
Lookout and Holy Camp.
Key places to visit
Grading of Tracks
Easy – suitable for all ages, but take
care with children.
Medium – some steep sections
and stairs. For people who walk
occasionally.
Ben Halls Camping Ground and Picnic Area
One of the most picturesque settings you could wish for. With the
escarpment areas of Basin Gully as a backdrop, the open woodland
environment provides a welcoming atmosphere here on the edge of
the park. Join in the adventure of conserving the threatened fuzzy
box community by following on-site guidelines regarding minimal
impact camping.
Hard – steep sections and stairs. For
people who walk regularly. Visitors
with heart or breathing problems
should not attempt these. .
Holy Camp
Safe walking
Seatons Farm
•
Always carry drinking water.
•
Know your route – advise
friends where you are going
and what time you expect to be
back.
•
Wear sensible walking shoes
(boots are not essential).
What use could you make of a few scrap sheets of metal and odd
strands of wire? Any budding handyman or woman can but wonder
at the ingenuity shown by Jim and Bertha Seaton in constructing
this farm out of not very much. The farm provided them with a self
sufficient operation to complement Jim’s work as a farm labourer.
Interpretive signs on site help tell their story.
•
Carry a bag for rubbish and
encourage others to do
likewise.
•
Wear a hat and protect skin
from the sun.
•
Keep to the tracks.
Drive past the remnant vegetation dotting the roadside reserves
and enjoy the view of the mountain on your drive into Holy Camp.
Nestled under the shade of mugga ironbarks and black pines, Holy
Camp provides the ideal setting for a quiet picnic or bush camp.
Seatons Farm Shed - an example
of building techniques and
materials used by Jim Seaton.
Walking Tracks
Ben Halls Cave Track: 1.5km, half hour return. Easy – Medium.
Cast your mind back to the bushrangers heading their horses up into the hidden back and byways of the
mountain range on this walk. Imagine scrambling up the adjacent escarpment areas to keep a watch out
for parties of troopers approaching across the plains to the west. A pleasant stroll up the hill behind the
camping area to a large rock overhang with views.
Lynchs Loop Walk: 2.5km, 1–2hr return. Medium – Hard.
A steady graded climb through open woodland to the edge of the western escarpment and a vast view
over the plains.
Berthas Gully: 3km, 2.5hr return. Medium.
A pleasant walk up into the cool gully. Enjoy the stunning display of springtime wildflowers.
Weddin Gap –Black Spring Loop Track: 20km loop, 10–12hr return. Medium.
After leaving your vehicle in the Weddin State Forest, you can follow this old coach road through the
saddle of the range and out to Black Spring Mountain. This is the longest loop track in the park along
a cleared fire trail and should only be attempted if you have a full day, or you could camp overnight
underneath the stars at one of the many scenic locations along the trail. A steep climb up Weddin Gap
Fire Trail will take you to the start of the Black Spring Fire Trail which leads to the top of the range where
spectacular views across the surrounding plains can be seen. Continue along this trail enjoying the views
along the eastern escarpment. Keep an eye out for the township of Grenfell in the distance. Return to
your starting point along Stoney Creek Trail.
Eualdrie Walking Track: 2.6km, 2.5hr return. Hard.
Follow an old logging track from Holy Camp to the base of the mountain. From here the marked track
climbs steeply to Peregrine Lookout with good views of rugged clifflines and peregrine falcon roosts.
On from Peregrine Lookout the track leads through heath and woodland with spectacular displays of
springtime flowers. At Eualdrie Lookout enjoy the views across the surrounding plains to Conimbla
National Park in the north east.
Basin Gully to Eualdrie Lookout Track: 4.5km, 3.5hr walk one way. Medium – Hard.
An adventurous hike up to Eualdrie Lookout at the top of this range. Start from Ben Halls Camping Area
and follow a marked trail through rugged terrain to the spectacular Eualdrie Lookout. You can return the
same way or keep going to Peregrine
Lookout and Holy Camp.
Key places to visit
Grading of Tracks
Easy – suitable for all ages, but take
care with children.
Medium – some steep sections
and stairs. For people who walk
occasionally.
Ben Halls Camping Ground and Picnic Area
One of the most picturesque settings you could wish for. With the
escarpment areas of Basin Gully as a backdrop, the open woodland
environment provides a welcoming atmosphere here on the edge of
the park. Join in the adventure of conserving the threatened fuzzy
box community by following on-site guidelines regarding minimal
impact camping.
Hard – steep sections and stairs. For
people who walk regularly. Visitors
with heart or breathing problems
should not attempt these. .
Holy Camp
Safe walking
Seatons Farm
•
Always carry drinking water.
•
Know your route – advise
friends where you are going
and what time you expect to be
back.
•
Wear sensible walking shoes
(boots are not essential).
What use could you make of a few scrap sheets of metal and odd
strands of wire? Any budding handyman or woman can but wonder
at the ingenuity shown by Jim and Bertha Seaton in constructing
this farm out of not very much. The farm provided them with a self
sufficient operation to complement Jim’s work as a farm labourer.
Interpretive signs on site help tell their story.
•
Carry a bag for rubbish and
encourage others to do
likewise.
•
Wear a hat and protect skin
from the sun.
•
Keep to the tracks.
Drive past the remnant vegetation dotting the roadside reserves
and enjoy the view of the mountain on your drive into Holy Camp.
Nestled under the shade of mugga ironbarks and black pines, Holy
Camp provides the ideal setting for a quiet picnic or bush camp.
Seatons Farm Shed - an example
of building techniques and
materials used by Jim Seaton.