Biriwal Bulga National Park

About

Biriwal Bulga National Park is an Australian national park in New South Wales. It is approximately 45 km northwest of Taree and 60 km west of Port Macquarie on the Bulga Plateau. The national park contains biodiverse ecosystems as well as culturally significant Indigenous Australian sites. The residents of the park range from animals to trees and bushes. The animals reside in an escarpment terrain. The park's soil varies in depth depending on the slope. Relatively high annual rainfall contributes to the types of native plants found. There are different conservation and management plans in place to maintain the natural and cultural heritage of the park whilst also providing research opportunities for visitors. The plans are set out and authorised by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services. Some plans include conservation regions for koalas and plants, limiting the spread and influence of pests and prevention of potential bushfires.

The name Biriwal Bulga originates from the Indigenous Birpai or Biripi people who have resided in the area for over 15,000 years. The Indigenous Australians in the local neighbourhood speak the Birpai language. The language spoken by the tribes surrounding the Birpai people is Gadjang.

Campsites and artifacts found within the park indicate long-term habitation of Indigenous Australians within the area. Truyard Pty. Ltd estimated that originally anywhere from 800 to 1000 Indigenous Australians inhabited the national park and surrounding regions. The people were dispersed throughout the land in smaller clan groups, with the most prominent being the Winmurra people.

Exploration occurred initially in the surrounding areas of Biriwal Bulga in the 1800s after European settlement. It was not until 1982 that settlers began making discoveries within the park. The date of the first discoveries marks Biriwal Bulga National Park as one of the latest National Parks to be discovered in the Port Macquarie region.

In the early 1900s, Bulga State Forest Area was predominantly utilised for timber harvesting and logging operations. This resulted in the implementation of a pine plantation within the National Park. In 1990, the State government placed a moratorium on further harvesting to ensure survival of the ecosystem. This resulted in the area shifting from Bulga State Forest Area to a conservation national park known today as Biriwal Bulga.

Biriwal Bulga is a 5,813-hectare national park on the northern edge of the Bulga plateau. It ranges in elevation from 130 m to 670 m above sea level. The landscape is predominantly dissected foothills, which contribute to its elevation. The most common rocks are mudstone and shale. Its average rainfall during the year ranges from 1300 to 1600 mm. If there is vegetation cover over the land, the rainfall can potentially cause erosion of soil.

The park has few visitors due to its remote location and lack of accessibility for two-wheel drive cars and bike tracks. There are no facilities or walking trails within the national park. The nearest recreational facilities are at Tapin Tops National Park and Ellenborough Falls at Elands.

Weelah Nature Reserve is situated in the southeast of Biriwal Bulga National Park, covering an area of 37 ha. It contains one of the few rainforest remnants on the Bulga Plateau.

is situated in the southeast of Biriwal Bulga National Park, covering an area of 37 ha. It contains one of the few rainforest remnants on the Bulga Plateau.

Seventy-four fauna species have been recorded in the area. Amongst these seventy-four species; according to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service,

“the following are recorded as vulnerable and at risk of becoming endangered: powerful owl, glossy black cockatoo, fruit doves, spotted-tailed quoll, brush-tailed phascogale, yellow-bellied glider, koala, long-nosed potoroo, large bent-wing bat ”.

The most common are koalas. Different subspecies of koalas interact with the natural flora forming the ecosystem within the park. These subspecies often roam and move from neighbouring regions into the park. An estimated 500–1000 individual koalas are recorded throughout the Biriwal Bulga region.

Sixteen types of plants have been recorded within Biriwal Bulga National Park. The predominant plants are dry sclerophyll forests. During its early discovery, the park was subject to selective logging for businesses due to its dense forests. The logging caused forest destruction and disturbed the natural ecosystem of the park.

The 1950s brought an end to all logging in the park, and the majority of the forest has now been restored. The Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves of Australia (CERRA) World Heritage Area has identified the park as a potential addition to its list as a development listing due to its undisturbed and intact rainforest. As of 2004, there were no recorded threatened plant species. Plectranthus suaveolens is listed as the only rare plant found in the park. The plants listed as endangered by the NSW Wildlife Services are vine ( Cynanchum elegans ) and ground orchid ( Diuris flavescens ).

Biriwal Bulga National Park drains the majority of its rainfall into surrounding creeks which eventually lead to the Hastings River. The main nearby body of water is the Doyles River, which is approximately 6 km in length. This is found on the southeastern border of the park. Inside the park are two catchments of water, Green Gully Creek and Big Creek. The water that leaves the park supplies stock on some downstream farms and partially supplies Port Macquarie.

Seventy-four fauna species have been recorded in the area. Amongst these seventy-four species; according to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service,

“the following are recorded as vulnerable and at risk of becoming endangered: powerful owl, glossy black cockatoo, fruit doves, spotted-tailed quoll, brush-tailed phascogale, yellow-bellied glider, koala, long-nosed potoroo, large bent-wing bat ”.

The most common are koalas. Different subspecies of koalas interact with the natural flora forming the ecosystem within the park. These subspecies often roam and move from neighbouring regions into the park. An estimated 500–1000 individual koalas are recorded throughout the Biriwal Bulga region.

Sixteen types of plants have been recorded within Biriwal Bulga National Park. The predominant plants are dry sclerophyll forests. During its early discovery, the park was subject to selective logging for businesses due to its dense forests. The logging caused forest destruction and disturbed the natural ecosystem of the park.

The 1950s brought an end to all logging in the park, and the majority of the forest has now been restored. The Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves of Australia (CERRA) World Heritage Area has identified the park as a potential addition to its list as a development listing due to its undisturbed and intact rainforest. As of 2004, there were no recorded threatened plant species. Plectranthus suaveolens is listed as the only rare plant found in the park. The plants listed as endangered by the NSW Wildlife Services are vine ( Cynanchum elegans ) and ground orchid ( Diuris flavescens ).