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:

WONNANGATTA-MOROKA

Nominated by:

Not recorded

Location:

The eastern side of the Snowy Range, 160 km north-east of Melbourne.

Size

145000 ha (nominated)
102300 ha (identified)

TENURE

National Park[1] 132000 ha
Nature Reserve 0 ha
State Forest 12900 ha
Vacant Crown Land 0 ha
Leasehold Land 0 ha
Freehold Land 0 ha
Aboriginal Land 0 ha

Wilderness Declared

56100 ha

Wilderness Not Declared

88900 ha

DESCRIPTION

Wonnangatta-Moroka lies on the eastern side of the Snowy Range (Bennison
Tablelands) over rugged mountains and numerous cliffs, escarpments, deeply
dissected valleys and steep gorges. The wilderness is drained by the Wonnangatta
River and some of its tributaries, including the Moroka River in the south and
the Catherine River in the north. This is one of the most striking areas of the
Victorian Alps, containing several distinctive and impresive features such as
The Razor, The Viking, The Crosscut Saw, Mt Darling, Mt Dawson, Mt Kent and
Snowy Bluff. Two significant gorges - Bryce and Moroka - are features of the
area. The relief of the areas is over 1400 metres, rising to its highest point
at Mt Howitt (1742 m).

The geology consists of sediments of Ordovician and Upper Devonian - Lower
Carboniferous age, the tilting and erosion of which have produced the impressive
escarpments characteristic of the area. Devonian volcanics along the edge of the
Snowy Range and Tertiary basalt cappings on some parts of the Range also occur.
Quaternary alluvium which has been deposits in some of the river valleys forms
broad river flats on the Wonnangatta River. Annual precipiation varies from 7000
mm in the lowest parts of the Wonnangatta valley to over 1600 mm on the Snowy
Range, regularly falling as snow over 1000 metres in the winter months. [2]

The vegetation is very diverse. The grassy or swampy heath river flats and tall
manna gum forests at the lower elevations contrast markedly with the alpine
complex of herbfields, grasslands and moist heathlands at the highest
elevations. Various dry sclerophyll eucalypt forests occur on the lower slopes
whereas wet sclerophyll alpine ash forests grow in sheltered areas on the upper
slopes. In less shelterd or on flatter areas, candlebark/snowgum woodland and
mountain gum/snow gum woodlands are common, aabove which occur snow gum
woodlands. [3]

The wide range of vegetation provides habitat for a diverse fauna, for example
small ground-dwelling mammals and arboreal mammals, birds ranging from emus to
scrub-wrens and honey eaters, a number of reptiles and frogs. At least seven
species of native fish occur including two galaxiids and the grayling. [4]

STATE FORESTS

ENDANGERED SPECIES

WONNANGATTTA-MOROKA contains the following endangered plants:
ASPLENIUM HOOKERIANUM (MAIDENHAIR SPLEENWORT), CAREX CAPILLACEA (HAIR SEDGE),
CAREX CEPHALOTES (WIRE-HEAD SEDGE), CAREX RALEIGHII (RALEIGH SEDGE), CELMISIA
SERICOPHYLLA (SILKY DAISY), DISCARIA PUBESCENS (HAIRY ANCHOR PLANT), DRABASTRUM
ALPESTRE (MOUNTAIN CRESS), EUPHRASIA SCABRA (ROUGH EYEBRIGHT), GNAPHALIUM
UMBRICOLA (CLIFF CUDWEED), GRAMMITIS POEPPINGIANA (ALPINE FINGER-FERN),
HELICHRYSUM ROGERSIANUM (NUNNIONG EVERLASTING), OSCHATZIA CUNEIFOLIA (WEDGE
OSCHATZIA), PHEBALIUM SQUAMEUM CORIACEUM (HARSH PHEBALIUM), PRATIA GELIDA (SNOW
PRATIA), TETRATHECA SP. (PINK-BELLS), WITTSTEINIA VACCINIACEA (BAW BAW BERRY),
CYSTOPTERIS FILIX-FRAGILIS (BRISTLE-FERN), TARAXACUM ARISTUM (AUSTRAL DANDELION)[5]

WONNANGATTTA-MOROKA contains the following endangered animals:
SMOKY MOUSE (PSUEDOMYS FUMEUS), PEREGRINE FALCON (FALCO PEREGRINUS),
BROAD-TOOTHED RAT (MASTACOMYS FUSCUS), WHITE'S SKINK (EGERNIA WHITII), SHE-OAK
SKINK (TILIQUA CASUARINAE), PINK ROBIN (PETROICA RODINOGASTER), YELLOW-BELLIED
GLIDER (PETAURUS AUSTRALIS) [6]

LAND USE HISTORY


The land was previously occupied by a group of tribes known as the Kurnai, who
would use it during the warmer months. Little evidence remains of their
occupaton and only three Aboriginal archaeological sites have been recorded from
the area. [7]


Homestead property at Wonnangatta Station is selected. This property was the
centre of much activity in the late 1800s and early 1900s but was later
destroyed by fire. A small recently restored cemetery remains.


The homestead property north of Eaglevale is selected. After this time most of
the former runs are included under some sort of grazing licence.


Organised bushwalking, often involving long trips by large parties with
packhorse was well established by this time and boomed in the 1930s. Popular
destination points, particularly for less-structured walking parties after World
War II include the Barry Mountains, Mount Speculation, the Cross Cut Saw, Mount
Howitt and the Howitt Plains.

1858
A pastoral run is established to the north of the goldfields at Eaglevale and
covered much of the southern half of the area.

1860
Goldfields are discovered on the Crooked River. In the years that followed
mining tracks were cut along the Wonnangatta and lower reaches of the Moroka
River, linking the goldfield with settled areas beyond the block. Small
townships known as Howittville and Winchester were established here, but were
shortlived.

1866
The Wonnangatta Station, in the heart of the area, is first licenced, and
encompassed most of the northern half of the area.

1960
In the mid 1960s the forests of the south of the area are first logged.

1970
By the mid 1970s logging had extended into the headwaters of the Wonnangatta,
Moroka and Humffray Rivers and Carey Creek. The logging of some areas at this
time, such as around Mount Kent, and in the upper Wonnangatta was very
controversial due to conflict with wilderness and recreational values. Logging
has continued in some of these areas and extended into the headwaters of the
Humffray River.

1970
Around the mid 1970s four-wheel driving and trailbike riding became popular,
particularly in the eastern half of the area.

CONSERVATION HISTORY

1949
The concept of a Victorian Alpine national park is first put forward in detail,
when the then Town and Country Planning Association proposed a park of over
500,000 ha in the State's north-eastern highlands. [8]

1970
Land Conservation Council (LCC) was established to make recommendations on the
use of public land in Victoria.

1973
LCC recognises wilderness areas as zones within national parks.

1974
Victorian National Parks Association publishes a detailed case for an Alpine
National Park, extending from Mount Baw Baw to the New South Wales border, in
its book "The Alps at the Crossroads". [9]

1975
National Parks Act 1975 includes protection of wilderness areas among the
objectives of the Act.

1979
Feller et al. publish "Wilderness in Victoria: an Inventory" describing a 90,000
ha Wonnangatta-Moroka wilderness area, consisting of a 60,000 ha core and a
30,000 ha buffer zone.

The LCC recommends th creation of a series of national parks and other reserves
in the alpine area. Wonnangatta-Moroka National Park is established as a result.


1983
LCC recommends alpine national parks be extended and linked to form a contiguous
Alpine National Park.

1986
July: Government ministers responsible for ACT Parks and Conservaiton Service,
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Victoria Department of Conservation,
Forests and Lands, and the Commonwealth Minister for Arts Heritage and
Environment sign a memorandum of understanding in relation to the co-operative
management of the Australian Alps National Parks. This memorandum "recognises
the significance of the Australian Alps National Parks, and the signatories
agree to pursue cooperative management and develop complementary policies to
protect the scenery, water catchments, plants, animals and cultural heritage of
the Alps. It will also promote greater awareness of the opportunities that these
valuable resources provide for recreation and tourism in the mountains of
south-east Australia." [10]

1987
Preece and Lesslie publish "A Survey of Wilderness Quality in Victoria".

The State Government, in its State Conservation Strategy, states a policy of
identifying, protecting and managing Wilderness. [11]

1988
LCC requested by State Government to carry out a special investigation into
wilderness.

1989
Amendment to National Parks Act 1975 established specific protection and
management requirements for designated wilderness areas.

May: Legislation for the Alpine National Park is passed in the Victorian
Parliament (National Parks (Alpine National Park) Act 1989).

Under this Act a sixteen member Alpine Advisory Committee is appointed,
consisting of :
i) one representative from each of the folowing organisations:
- Victorian National Parks Association;
- Conservation Council of Victoria;
- Federation of Victorian Walking Clubs Inc.;
- Victorian Farmers' Association;
- Mountain Cattlemen's Assocation of Victoria Inc.;
- Field Naturalists Club of Victoria;
- Australian Deer Association Inc.;
- Australian National Four Wheel Drive Council;

ii) One person engaged in commercial tour activities in the Park, nominated by
the Director of the Victorian Tourism Commission;

iii) Two persons nominated by municipalities adjoining the Park;

iv) Five persons nominated by the Minister for Conservation, Forests and Lands. [12]

1989
2 December: 646,000 ha Alpine National Park declared. This park, Victoria's
largest, incorporates the former Bogong, Cobberas-Tingaringy and
Wonnangatta-Moroka National Parks. [13]

1989
Australian Alps memorandum of understanding revised.

Victorian Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands release "Alpine National
Park Wonnangatta-Moroka Planning Unit Proposed Management Plan". This proposed
management plan describes a 69,700 ha Wilderness Zone (comprising 40,000 ha Avon
Wilderness Park and 29,700 ha Mt Darling Wilderness) and 42,230 ha of Remote
Areas, which have most of the characteristics of a Wilderness, but is not
classified as such because of an activity such as grazing or deer hunting. [14]

1990
February: LCC publish "Wilderness Special Investigation Descriptive Report"
describing 109,300 ha Wonnangatta-Moroka Wilderness Area".

1991
April: LCC publishes "Wilderness Special Investigation Proposed
Recommendations". This report divides Wonnangatta-Moroka Wilderness into two
smaller areas: Mt Darling/Snowy Bluff (41,700 ha of the Wonnangatta and Moroka
River catchments between the Howitt Plains Road, the Moroka Road and the
Wonnangatta valley) and Razor/Viking Wilderness Area (21,000 ha including
Cathering River Valley and the headwaters of the Wonnangatta River). Two further
areas - Macalister (35,500 ha encompassing much of the headwaters of the
Macalister River) and Dandongadale (9,000 ha of State Forest abutting the
northern edge of Razor/Viking Wilderness Zone) are listed as Other Areas with
Remote and Natural Attributes. [15]

1991
November: LCC releases their final recommendations. These final recommendations
reduce the size of Mt Darling/Snowy Bluff Wilderness Area to 40,400 ha and
Razor/Viking Wilderness Area to 15,700 ha. Macalister is reduced to 33,300 ha
and Dandongadale is increased to 12,900 ha. [16]

1992


THREATS

HUNTING
The Mt Darling/Snowy Bluff wilderness is considered important for deer hunting.
Sambar deer is the species sought by hunters in the area. Hunting by stalking
involves the tracking of animals for some distance, often along creeks, gullies
and through more remote areas, and requires interpreting signs such as wallows,
rubs and browsing marks, tracks and droppings. Killing of the deers is usually
done with firearms, but occasionally with bow and arrows. Under the wilderness
declarations, deer hunting by stalking is permitted in Mt Darling/Snowy Bluff
and Razor/Viking Wilderness Areas.

LOGGING
The LCC descriptive Report (p189) area consists of approximately 8,067 ha of ash
species forest (including 543 ha in once-only logging areas) and 5,947 ha in
mixed species forest (including 746 ha in once-only logging areas). The area
lies within the Wangaratta and Central Gippsland forest Management Areas. A
2,600 ha area east of the Razor Track, part of which is subject to once only
mainly selective logging (not due for completion until 1996) was excluded from
wilderness declaration because of a commitment to the regions timber industry.
Previous logging disturbance was a contributing factor to the exclusion of
Macalister remote and natural area from wilderness declaration. The area north
of the Cobbler Lake-Abbeyart Track encompasses 900 ha of largely undisturbed
foothill forest. This area, within Dandongadale remote and natural area was
excluded from wilderness declaration, partly because the forests contribute 0.3%
of the regional sustainable yield of the Wangaratta Forest Management Area.

CONTACTS

No contacts are recorded from that area.
ENDNOTES
1
Within Alpine National Park.

2
Feller, M., Hooley, D., Dreher, R., East, I., Jung, R., 1979, "Wilderness in
Victoria: an Inventory", Department of Geography, Monash University, Melbourne.

3
Feller et al., 1979.

4
Feller et al., 1979.

5
Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands - Victora, December 1989, "Alpine
National Park Wonnangatta-Moroka Unit Proposed Management Plan", pp 36-37. For
more information on the vegetation of the area see: Walsh, N., Barley, R., jand
Gullan, P., 1984, "The Alpine Vegetation of Victoria (excluding the Bogong High
Plains Region)", Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands, Environmental
Studies Series Report No. 376; Land Conservation Council, Victoria, 1977,
"Report on the Alpine Study Area", two volumes.


6
Victoria Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands, 1989. For more
information on the wildlife of the area see: Land Conservation Council,
Victoria, 1977, "Report on the Alpine Study Area"(two volumes); Department of
Conservation, Forests and Lands, 1986, "Atlas of Victorian Mammals", unpublished
report, Arthur Rylah Institute; Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands,
1988, "Atlas of Victorian Birds", Arthur Rylah Institute; Department of
Conservation, Forests and Lands, 1988, "A Guide to References on the
Distribution of Wildlife in Victoria", Arthur Rylah Institute.

7
LCC, 1990, p185.

8
LCC, 1990.

9
Johnson, D., 1974, "The Alps at the Crossroads", Victorian National Parks
Association.

10
Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands, 1989, p 15.

11
Victoria State Government, June 1987, "Protecting the Environment - A
Conservation Strategy for Victoria", pp34-35.

12
Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands, 1989, op.cit., p 15-16.

13
Department of Conservation and Environment, 1992, "Victoria's National Parks".

14
Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands, 1989, pp34,40-41.

15
Land Conservation Council, 1991, "Wilderness Special Investigation Proposed
Recommendations", pp40-46,68.

16
Land Conservation Council, November 1991, "Wilderness Special Investigation
Final Recommendations", pp 56-63,149-150

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