Goongarrie National Park and former Goongarrie Pastoral Lease
Goldfields Region 32 Brookman Street Kalgoorlie WA 6430 Ph: 9080 5555 Fax: 9021 7831 kalgoorlie@dpaw.wa.gov.au www.dpaw.wa.gov.au
Goongarrie National Park and former Goongarrie Pastoral Lease Goongarrie was first known as Roaring Gimlet, due to the sound of the cold south-westerly winds roaring through the gimlet trees. Travellers also knew it as ‘Ninety Mile’ due to the distance from Coolgardie.
Goongarrie Station The lease for the 100,686ha station was taken up in 1924; however, due to difficulty in establishing sufficient water points, it was only partially developed (about 30 per cent) to run sheep. The lease was purchased by the State Government in 1995 under the Sandalwood Conservation and Regeneration Program for the conservation of flora, fauna and sandalwood (Sanatalum spicatum). Selective harvesting of sandalwood occurred in the area from late last century, and has continued to a lesser degree until recently. The former lease is a proposed conservation reserve.
Visitor fees It is free to visit Goongarrie although overnight camping fees apply at the station complex. Campground hosts are on site seasonally. Bookings can be made through the Department of Parks and Wildlife’s Goldfields Region office on 9080 5555 or kalgoorlie@dpaw.wa.gov.au.
Accommodation The homestead complex is in good working order and an ideal place to camp. There are three main buildings: the main homestead, the sandalwood camp and the shearers’ cottage. In addition, there is ample space to camp outside. All the buildings have tables, wood barbecues, water supply, some basic furniture and provisions for electricity (BYO generator). The facility is an excellent venue for bush workshops, conferences, meetings and group and school excursions. Each building can be booked separately, or the whole complex can be booked for large groups. School holidays and long weekends can be busy, so it is wise to book ahead.
Goongarrie National Park The 60,335ha Goongarrie National Park was created in 1978, primarily as a representative area to conserve the extremely diverse flora and fauna along the transition zone between the eucalypt and mulga woodlands. A major biological divide between the eucalypt-dominant woodlands of the south-west interzone (Coolgardie bioregion) and the mulga-dominant woodlands of the Murchison passes just to the south of Goongarrie. As a result, plant and animal species from both ecological zones are present, enhancing the species richness.
Nganamarta Walk Trail Starting from the Goongarrie homestead, this 3km trail provides visitors with an insight into the diverse flora, fauna and the variety of land systems found in this area. A brochure is available with information on Goongarrie’s history—station life, the gold mining industry, sandalwood use, flora and fauna, and Aboriginal use of the land. The walk trail was named after the malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata), which can occasionally be seen at Goongarrie.
• Stay in the homestead complex or bush camp. • Drive through a variety of land systems, including magnificent salt lakes, sand dunes, granite outcrops, eucalypt and mulga woodlands. • Explore the homestead and take a stroll on the Nganamarta Walk Trail. • Do a bit of birdwatching, where you may be lucky enough to see the vunerable malleefowl. • Discover some of Goongarrie’s rich cultural history including a lone grave found near Deadman’s Soak in Goongarrie National Park, the old Goongarrie town site established in 1897 or the old cemetery at the Comet Vale town site. • Organise group activities including astronomy nights and school activities.
How to get there Goongarrie homestead turnoff is about 90km north of Kalgoorlie and is well signposted. Access into the national park is via Pianto Road, about 12km north of the homestead turnoff. There are no facilities in the national park. Goongarrie National Park and former pastoral lease
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Davyhurst
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Goongarrie National Park
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Goongarrie Homestead
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Comet Vale
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Goongarrie Mine
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Ex Goongarrie Station
Goongarrie Siding 3 historical houses
Kalgoorlie 90km
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For more information Goldfields Region 32 Brookman Street Kalgoorlie WA 6430 Ph: 9080 5555 Fax: 9021 7831 kalgoorlie@dpaw.wa.gov.au www.dpaw.wa.gov.au
This document is available in alternative formats on request. Information current at March 2014.
20130423-0314-PDF
Goongarrie National Park and former Goongarrie Pastoral Lease
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