NATIONAL WILDERNESS RED INDEX

Published by the Colong Foundation for Wilderness Ltd. 30/09/94
Level 2, 332 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000.
Ph (02) 9261 2400; Fax (02) 9261 2144.

Name:

MOUNT GLASS

Nominated by:

Not recorded

Location:

Not recorded

Size
For size and tenure information contact the Colong Foundation.

DESCRIPTION

Ranges of late Devonian sediments dominate the southern and eastern parts of
this area. To the north the countryside flattens out forming riverine plains of
Quaternary alluvium. Mount Glass, the highest peak in the area, rises to over
300 metres above sea level. [1]

Woodland communities cover large parts of the area, the most common being
Ironwood (Acacia excelsa), Horse Mulga (Acacia ramulosa) and Belah (Casuarina
cristata) - Rosewood (Heterodendron oleifolium). Smaller areas of Bimble Box
(Eucalyptus populnea) and White Pine (Callitris columellaris) woodland occur. 4
plant species present are at or near the limit of their geographic range.
Spinifex Pea (Muelleranthus trifoliatus) is at its southern limit, Kunzea sp. D
reaches is at its western limit, Creeping Carrot (Uldinia ceratocarpa) is at its
eastern limt and Yapunyah (Eucalyptus ochrophloia) is at or near its southern
eastern limit.
Four plants - Red Crumbweed (Dysphania littoralis), Spinifex Pea (Muelleranthus
trifoliatus), a subspecies of Kneed Darling Pea (Swainsona oroboides reticulata)
and White Parsnip (Trachymene ochraceae) have populations which are restricted
in the Western Division of NSW, and are disjunct from their main populations
elsewhere.
Fourteen vegetation communities are recorded from the area, none of which are
adequately protected in nature conservation reserves, and four of which are
endangerd or vulnerable. Four plants in the aea are nationally rare or
threatened - Irongrass (lomandra patens) is a rare plant recorded from the rocky
hills that run down the eastern side of the area; mother-of-misery (Cuphonotus
humistratus) is endemic in NSW and is restricted throughout its range; Twining
Purslane (Calandrinia volubilis) and C. disperma are restricted throughout their
ranges. [2]

One hundred and twenty five species of birds have been recorded in and around
the Mount Glass wilderness, with a further eighty known from other areas nearby.
Five of the species from the wilderness area are threatended. The Squatter
Pigeon (Petrophassa scripta) and Flock Bronze wing (Phaps histrionica) are
endangerd in NSW, and the Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus), Pink
Cockatoo (Cacatua leadbeateri) and Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus
magnificus) are rare or vulnerable.
A substantial number of birds in the area are at or near the limit of their
geographic range. Fifteen of these have not increased in overall range or
abundance since European settlement. Including the twelve species that are of
concern in western New South Wales, but generally secure, a total of twenty-four
species of bird from the wilderness area have some conservation significance.
Seven species of native mammal have been recorded in the wilderness area. Of
these , the Yellow-footed Antechinus (Antechinus flavipes) and Long-haired Rat
(Rattus vilosissimus) are at or near their inland and southern geographical
range limits respectively. The Kultarr (Antechinomys laniger) and the
Long-haired Rat (Rattus vilosissimus) is regarded as threatened. [3]

ENDANGERED SPECIES

No endangered species information is recorded for this area.

LAND USE HISTORY


The area is one of significance to Aboriginal people with an important art site
occurring on Mount Glass. Winbar Station which extends into the area is subject
to an Aboriginal land claim. [4]

CONSERVATION HISTORY

No conservation history is recorded for this area.

THREATS

GRAZING
The area is held under Western Lands leases and is subject to pastoral use. A
number of developments associated with grazing exist in the area particularly
fences and watering points. [5]

MILITARY
The area is under consideration for use as an army artillery manoeuvres site. [6]

CONTACTS

No contacts are recorded from that area.

ENDNOTES

1
Prineas, 1986.

2
Prineas, 1986; Harden (1990-1993), Pressey et al., 1990 (cited in Knight, 1994)


3
Smith et al., 1994, Blakers et al. 1984, NPWS 1992 and Strahan (1992) cited in
Knight, 1994.

4
Prineas, 1986.

5
Prineas, 1986.

6
Prineas, 1986

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