Kinglake National Park
In February 2009 an extraordinary 98% of the 22,360ha Kinglake National Park was burnt in the Black Saturday Fires. The fire came from outside the park where there was tragic loss of human life and devastating consequences to the local community. But two years on, the natural environment is making a remarkable recovery..
Park historyThe park was created as a result of pressure from individuals. As Jane Calder recounts in Parks - Victoria's National and State Parks: |
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"Kinglake NP was declared in 1928 largely as a result of the efforts of three men: Sir James Barrett, a tireless worker for Victoria's national parks; William Everard, a local politician; and Professor William Laver, who donated his land at the head of Jehosaphat Gully and who, soon after, was instrumental in having the northern Wombelano Falls area added to the new Park."
There is a memorial cairn to Professor Laver at the Mt Sugarloaf/Masons Falls entrance to the park.
Later additions include the Wombelano Falls, Yea River Park, and the Wallaby Creek designated Water Supply Catchment area.
Karma Hastwell, a resident of Bald Spur Road who died in the 2009 fire, gifted her 26ha property to Trust for Nature, and this land, with an adjoining 8ha purchased by the Trust, is being added to the park. The site is marked by a memorial plaque.
A native grevillea at Kinglake Nationla Park, and right, bush peas. Photos Parks Victoria |
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Flora and fauna
Since the fires there has been massive regeneration. Bare areas with weeds, particularly thistles, have been overtaken by eucalypts.
Mountain Ash trees have regenerated prolifically in the Wallaby Creek catchment, where only about 150 old trees survived.
Myrtle Beech in some gullies of the Plenty River headwaters were severely affected and may be replaced by eucalypts.
Threatened species surveys have shown impressive regeneration of Swamp Bush-pea and Round-leaf Pomaderris.
The Spot-tail Quoll, Yellow-bellied Glider and forest owls have been particularly impacted, as has the Brush-tailed Phascogale.
Lyrebirds and wombats have been remarkable survivors - there is speculation that lyrebirds may have taken refuge in wombat holes.
Visiting the park
Kinglake is made up of four distinct blocks: Wallaby Creek; Sugarloaf, with Mt Sugarloaf; Everard, with Mt Everard, Mt Jerusalem, Mt Beggary and Mt Slide; and the Wombelano Block with Andrews Hill.
In the Sugarloaf Block, the popular Masons Falls and Jehosaphat Gully picnic areas are being re-designed with new facilities.
The open grassy Frank Thompson Reserve on the Kinglake-Healesville Road is the only part of the park where dogs are permitted. It has tables and electric BBQs, no toilets.
Much of the Wombelano Block was burnt in 2006, and the 2009 fire was of lower intensity. From a car park on Captain Creek Road there is a walk circuit of 1.5km (30 minutes) to a lookout overlooking the falls.
On Eucalyptus Road the Island Creek picnic area has a toilet and information shelter, and 'The Gums' camping area has 18 campsites, each with tent platform, table and car park.
Facilities include an information shelter, central toilet block, gas BBQs and fireplaces.
There is a short 500m 'Cicada Circuit' walking track nearby and the 2km 'Blackfish Way' walking track leads to Island Creek picnic area.
The Wallaby Creek block is a closed catchment not open to the public except for a 2100 ha buffer zone, including Cascade Falls, the 'Strath' Fire Tower, and the aqueduct 'Cascades'. Wallaby Creek Lodge, where the Queen once stayed, has been completely destroyed.
The adjoining Toorourrong Reservoir Park was badly burnt, with the loss of all infrastructure.
Volunteering information
The Friends of Kinglake conduct annual Lyrebird Surveys in the park. Volunteers are welcome. To take part, contact Lawrie Rigg on 9434 6685.
Note: These park notes are an edited version of an article written by Geoff Durham for Park Watch, the VNPA's quarterly magazine.
For a detailed map and current visitor information, visit www.parkweb.vic.gov.au or phone Parks Victoria on 13 1963. |
