The Mutawintji National Park, formerly the Mootwingee National Park, is a protected national park that is located in the Far West region of New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The 68,912-hectare (170,290-acre) national park is situated approximately 880 kilometres (550 mi) west of Sydney and about 130 kilometres (81 mi) north-east of Broken Hill.
| Mutawintji National Park New South Wales | |
|---|---|
 Aboriginal rock art located within the national park, 1976. | |
  Mutawintji National Park | |
| Nearest town or city | White Cliffs |
| Coordinates | 31°08′48″S 142°22′53″E / 31.14667°S 142.38139°E |
| Established | 4 September 1998[1] |
| Area | 689.12 km2 (266.1 sq mi)[1] |
| Managing authorities | NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service |
| Website | Mutawintji National Park |
| See also | Protected areas of New South Wales |
Features and location
The rugged, mulga-clad Byngnano Range is dissected by colourful gorges, rockpools and creek beds lined with red gums. Scattered among the caves and overhangs are Aboriginal rock art and engravings.
In 1979, the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife purchased and fenced 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi), in the Coturaundee Ranges, now part of Mutawintji National Park, for the conservation and protection of the yellow-footed rock wallaby.
Follow-up funding of fox eradication in the reserve ensured the survival of this last population of yellow-footed rock-wallabies in New South Wales. Of the wild animals, wedge-tailed eagle, peregrine falcon, short-billed correllas, zebra finches, budgerigars, apostle birds and magpies can also be found here.[2]
The park also protects Mutawintji Historic Site, containing one of the best collections of Australian Aboriginal rock art.[3]
See also
References
Gallery
Hand stencils. Mootwingee.
Etched rock figures. Mutawintji National Park
Waterhole, Mootwingee
Rock etchings. Mootwingee
Hand stencils in rock overhang, Mootwingee
Mootwingee waterhole
Ancient rock etchings. Mootwinjee
Etched human-like figures. Mootwingee
Kangaroos etched on rocks. Mootwingee
External links
- "Mutawintji Lands: Plan of management" (PDF). NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service (PDF). Government of New South Wales. 2013. ISBN 978-1-74359-284-7.
- Mutawintji National Park (PDF) (PDF Map). NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Government of New South Wales.
- The Archaeology of Mootwingee,Western New South Wales by F. D. McCarthy and N. W. G. Macintosh. Records of the Australian Museum, VOL. XXV, No. 13, 1962, pp. 249–298.