Munmorah State Conservation Area

Munmorah State Conservation Area New South Wales
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Munmorah State Conservation Area
Nearest town or city	Wyong
Coordinates	33.182°S 151.601°E / -33.182; 151.601
Established	1 January 1977 (1977-01-01)
Area	15.3 km^2 (5.9 sq mi)
Managing authorities	NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
See also	Protected areas of New South Wales

Munmorah State Conservation Area is located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. The area's coastal setting and panoramic views, perched sand dunes, diverse vegetation communities, protected threatened species and migratory bird habitats, together with opportunities for nature based recreation and for educational and scientific study, were cited as reasons for the reserve's creation.^[1] The reserve is part of the Tuggerah Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for a variety of water and woodland birds.^[2]

The area is located at an estimated altitude of 50 meters.^[3]

Places of interest

• Birdie Beach (Includes area for unclad bathing)
• Tea Tree Picnic Area - Gas barbecues
• Frazer Beach
• Palms Picnic Area
• The Palms Walking Track
• Wybung Trig Lookout
• Snapper Point^[4]

History

The land now occupied by Munmorah State Conservation Area was first inhabited by the Guringai/Wannangine people and the Awabakal people. The Guringai/Wannangine people occupied the southern section^[5] and the Awabakal occupied the northern section. It is believed Europeans first discovered the Tuggerah Lakes in 1796. It was found by Governor of Tasmania, Colonel David Collins, who had arrived on the First Fleet, during the search for an escaped convict woman, Mary Morgan, who was said to be living with the Aborigines to the north of the Hawkesbury River.^[6]

Large areas of forest in the Conservation Area were burnt out during bushfires in October 2013.^[7]

See also

• Protected areas of New South Wales (Australia)

References

1. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. "Munmorah State Conservation Area and Bird Island Nature Reserve - Plan of Management" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 September 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2007.
2. BirdLife International. (2011). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Tuggerah. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 2011-11-17.
3. "Munmorah State Conservation Area reserve, New South Wales, Australia". au.geoview.info. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
4. Stralia Web. "Munmorah State Conservation Area Central Coast". Retrieved 9 September 2008.
5. "Group outraged after vandals target sacred trees". 20 January 2015.
6. "theentrancetcm.com.au". Who Found Tuggerah Lake?. Archived from the original on 21 August 2006. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
7. Noone, Richard; Smith, Errol; Collins, Terry (18 October 2013). "Raging bushfires claim first victim as flames continue to rip through Doyalson and Mannering Park". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 19 October 2013.

External links

• Department of Environment and Climate Change page on Munmorah State Conservation Area