Greenmount National Park
Greenmount National Park is a national park in the locality of Greenmount, Western Australia, 22 km east of Perth.
| Greenmount National Park Western Australia | |
|---|---|
IUCN category II (national park) | |
 Jarrah tree, Greenmount Hill National Park. | |
  Greenmount National Park | |
| Nearest town or city | Perth |
| Coordinates | 31°54′23″S 116°03′36″E |
| Established | 1970 |
| Area | 2.02 km2 (0.8 sq mi)[1] |
| Managing authorities | Department of Environment and Conservation |
| Website | Greenmount National Park |
| See also | List of protected areas of Western Australia |
It is one of the smaller national parks along the Darling Scarp and is a component of the Darling Range Regional Park. Due to its proximity to John Forrest National Park, which used to be known as Greenmount National Park until 1928,[2] and relationship to subsequent reserves to the south it is a vital scarp wildlife corridor.
Bus tours were available from Perth in 1933 with Hill's Bus Tours offering passengers a tour around the park on Sundays in September.[3] Beam Transport Ltd. offered a similar service through the Park to Mundaring Weir in 1937.[4]
As a feature adjacent to the Helena River Valley it has significance in Aboriginal folklore, and also featured very early on in early European settler's diaries.
Mountain Quarry is one of several blue stone quarries located within the park, popular with rock climbers and walkers. Vehicle access to the quarry site is restricted; however a car-park and picnic facilities including toilets are within walking distance of the main site, which is completely accessible on foot. There are several panels containing historical information about the site spread around as part of the popular Railway Reserves Heritage Trail, which runs close to the quarry.
The Boya/Koongamia leg of the Railway Reserves Heritage Trail, also known as the "Bridle Trail", curves around the south-western edge of the park, crossing through the Mountain Quarry car-park and picnic area.
In the early 2000s significant bushfire damage occurred on the southern slopes of this park. Large fire-breaks bisect the park, serving as popular walking routes among locals.
The western and northern slopes, visible from Great Eastern Highway, have extensive Watsonia infestations.
In late 2005, the government authority in charge of the national park was taking steps to prevent vehicular access along the top of the ridge to the lookout due to vandalism and issues with residents adjacent to the park.
The park is situated along the side of Greenmount Hill and has majestic views over the Swan Coastal Plain below and Perth city below. The dominant vegetation in the park is eucalypts such as marri and wandoo along with an array of wild flowers and heathland along the northern slopes. The hill is steep and contain several breakaways and rocky outcrops.[5]
See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greenmount Hill National Park, Western Australia. |
References
- "Department of Environment and Conservation 2009–2010 Annual Report". Annual Report. Department of Environment and Conservation: 48. 2010. ISSN 1835-114X. Archived from the original on 11 January 2011.
- "Pleasetakemeto – John Forrest National Park". 2010. Archived from the original on 30 June 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
- "Hills'us Tours". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 6 September 1933. p. 7. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
- "Advertising". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 1 May 1937. p. 1. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
- "Total Travel – Greenmount Hill National Park". 2010. Archived from the original on 11 March 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
Further reading
- Western Australia. Dept. of Conservation and Land Management. A recreational development plan for-- Kalamunda National Park, Lesmurdie Falls National Park, Gooseberry Hill National Park, Greenmount National Park Como, W.A.: Conservation and Land Management, 1989.