Boodjamulla National Park

Infobox_protected_area_of_Australia
name = Boodjamulla National Park
iucn_category = II

---

caption =
locator_x = 172
locator_y = 56
nearest_town_or_city = Burketown
coordinates = coord|18|42|05|S|138|29|15|E|type:landmark_region:AU
area = 2820 km²
established =1985
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
managing_authorities = Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
official_site = [http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park/index.cgi?parkid=185 Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park]

Boodjamulla National Park, formerly known as Lawn Hill National Park, is a national park in the Gulf Country region of northwestern Queensland, Australia. The park is 340 km (211 miles) northwest of Mount Isa or 1,837 km (1,141 miles) northwest of Brisbane.

The main attractions in the park are the sandstone ranges with deep gorges and a limestone plateau with significant fossil fields. Surrounding the park are numerous resources reserves, set aside for future mineral exploration and mining if deposits are found.

Features

The park contains several permanent creeks, waterholes, gorges, and sandstone ranges. Boodjamulla's ancient sandstones and limestones have been gradually stripped away over millions of years leaving behind rugged escarpments, gorges, and rock outcrops. There are four main habitats contained with the park: riverine, alluvial flats, rocky hills, and clay plains.cite journal |last=Pearcey |first=Graham |authorlink= |coauthors= |year= |date=Apr-Jun 1995 |title=Lawn Hill Gorgeous |journal=Australian Geographic |volume=38 |issue= |pages=52-73 |publisher=Australian Geograhic Society |location=Terrey Hills, New South Wales |accessdate=2008-07-14]

Lawn Hill Gorge, the primary attraction in the park, cuts through the sandstone plateau of the Constance Range.cite book |title=Discover Australia's National Parks |last=Hema Maps |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1997 |publisher=Random House Australia |location=Milsons Point, New South Wales |isbn=1975992472 |pages=184] The gorge has been carved out by Lawn Hill Creek, which flows all year and is fed by numerous freshwater springs from the limestone plateau to the west. The gorge is a rich oasis with cabbage palms and other tropical vegetation.

Also located in the park are the Gregory River and O'Shanassy Rivers which flow all year round.cite book |title=Australia's National and Marine Parks: Queensland |last=Reid |first=Greg |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2004 |publisher=Macmillan Education Australia |location=South Yarra, Victoria |isbn=073299053X |pages=17 ]

Fauna

Freshwater crocodiles can be found in the gorge; however, they pose no threat because they prefer to stay away from humans. ] The park is home to more than 135 bird species, including the Great Bowerbird, Red-collared Lorikeet, Crimson Finch, Zebra Finch, Kestrel, Spinifex Pigeon, Barking Owl, Brolga, Budgerigars, and the Wedge-tailed Eagle. The rare Purple-crowned Fairy-wren is the park emblem.

Other animal species found in the park include the Rock-haunting Ringtail Possum, Agile Wallaby, Olive python, Catfish, Wallaroo, Dingo, and Echidna.

Flora

On the sandstone hills are spinifex, acacias, eucalypts and grevilleas. Growing on the river plains are western bloodwoods and mitchell grass. Paperbarks, river red gums, figs, ferns, pandanus and cabbage palms are found along the creek and river banks. ]

History

The Aboriginal Waanyi people have lived in the gorge area for at least 17,000 years and know this place as Boodjamulla, or Rainbow Serpent country. Lawn Hill Gorge is sacred to the Waanyi people. Midden heaps, grinding stones, and rock art evidence the importance of this place. Today, the Waanyi people help manage the park.

The park has a rich pastoral history and until December 1984 was part of Lawn Hill Station, which was once one of Queensland's largest cattle properties. The cattle station was formed from several leases originally granted in the 1870s. Sebastiana Maia, who owned that station from 1976, returned 122 km² on the lease to the state in 1984, on the condition it be managed for the public's benefit. In 1992, another 1,350 km² was given to the crown to extend the park's boundaries.

The Riversleigh and Musselbrook sections were amalgamated into the park in 1992. ] The Riversleigh Fossil Fields Section of the park is a World Heritage Site and contains many fossil remains. Animal bones dating back 25 million years are preserved in the lime-rich sediments.

ee also

* Protected areas of Queensland

References

External links

* [http://www.aerialvideo.com.au/lawnhill.html Aerial video footage of Boodjamulla and Lawn Hill Gorge]