Grampians National Park
Grampians National Park / Gariwerd Halls Gap | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 37°12′28″S 142°23′59″E / 37.20778°S 142.39972°E |
Established | 1 July 1984[1] |
Area | 1,672.19 km2 (645.6 sq mi)[1] |
Managing authorities | Parks Victoria |
Website | Grampians National Park / Gariwerd |
See also | Protected areas of Victoria |
The Grampians National Park commonly referred to as the Grampians, is a
The 167,219-hectare (413,210-acre) national park is situated between
The Grampians feature a striking series of mountain ranges of sandstone. The Gariwerd area features about 90% of the rock art in the state.[4]
Etymology
At the time of European colonisation, the Grampians had a number of indigenous names, one of which was Gariwerd in the western Kulin
According to historian Benjamin Wilkie, the name Gariwerd was first written down in 1841, taken from a Jardwadjali speaker by the
In 1836, the explorer and
After a two-year consultation process, the park was renamed Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park in 1991, but that proved controversial and was reversed after the election of the
Physiography
This area is a distinct physiographic section of the larger Western Victorian Highlands province, which, in turn, is part of the larger
Geography
The general form that the ranges take is: from the west, a series of low-angled sandstone ridges running roughly north–south. The eastern sides of the ridges, where the sedimentary layers have faulted, are steep and beyond the vertical in place - notably at Hollow Mountain near
Geology
The rock material that composes the high peaks is sandstone which was laid down from rivers during the Devonian period 425 - 415 million years ago.[10] This sediment slowly accumulated to a depth of 7 kilometres (4.3 mi); this was later raised and tilted for its present form.[citation needed] A number of
The Southern Ocean reached the base of the northern and western edges of the mountain range about 40 million years ago, the deposition from the range forming the sea floor which is now Little Desert National Park.[citation needed]
The highest peak is Mount William at 1,167 metres (3,829 ft). Numerous waterfalls, such as Mackenzie Falls, are found in the park and are easily accessible via a well-developed road network.[citation needed]
Climate
Due to being an exposed peak in the far west of Victoria, Mount William features especially cool maximum temperatures throughout the year. Winter cloud cover is profound; with an extraordinary 26 days of precipitation in July, constituting an annual total of 216 days—quite possibly the highest figure of any site in mainland Australia.
Climate data for Grampians (Mount William, 2005–2023); 1,150 m AMSL; 37.30° S, 142.60° E | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 36.6 (97.9) |
36.6 (97.9) |
32.2 (90.0) |
26.1 (79.0) |
18.0 (64.4) |
13.4 (56.1) |
12.1 (53.8) |
16.1 (61.0) |
20.6 (69.1) |
27.0 (80.6) |
32.1 (89.8) |
34.9 (94.8) |
36.6 (97.9) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 21.4 (70.5) |
20.0 (68.0) |
17.3 (63.1) |
12.5 (54.5) |
8.3 (46.9) |
5.8 (42.4) |
5.1 (41.2) |
5.8 (42.4) |
8.8 (47.8) |
12.7 (54.9) |
15.8 (60.4) |
18.3 (64.9) |
12.7 (54.7) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.3 (50.5) |
9.5 (49.1) |
8.4 (47.1) |
6.0 (42.8) |
3.6 (38.5) |
1.8 (35.2) |
1.0 (33.8) |
1.1 (34.0) |
2.1 (35.8) |
4.0 (39.2) |
6.2 (43.2) |
7.8 (46.0) |
5.2 (41.3) |
Record low °C (°F) | 0.9 (33.6) |
1.8 (35.2) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
−4.1 (24.6) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
−3.8 (25.2) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
−4.1 (24.6) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 62.6 (2.46) |
33.8 (1.33) |
57.0 (2.24) |
82.2 (3.24) |
132.4 (5.21) |
147.2 (5.80) |
174.4 (6.87) |
157.0 (6.18) |
118.2 (4.65) |
93.8 (3.69) |
77.1 (3.04) |
55.0 (2.17) |
1,179.2 (46.43) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 8.8 | 11.5 | 15.3 | 18.2 | 22.3 | 24.4 | 25.5 | 24.1 | 21.3 | 17.1 | 15.6 | 11.4 | 215.5 |
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Grampians (Mount William) |
Cultural heritage
Evidence of vertebrate life
The Silverband Formation (see Geology above) was the source of sandstone paving slabs used for the construction of a nearby Cobb & Co station in 1873. The surface of one paver contained 23 impressions, the tracks of a four-legged animal around 850 millimetres (33 in) in length, which have been described as the oldest trace of a vertebrate walking on land.[11]
Aboriginal Australian heritage
To the Jardwadjali and Djab wurrung peoples, Gariwerd was central to the dreaming of the creator, Bunjil, and buledji Brambimbula, the two brothers Bram, who were responsible for the creation and naming of many landscape features in western Victoria.
Grampians National Park (Gariwerd) is one of the richest
- Billimina (Glenisla shelter)
- Jananginj Njani (Camp of the Emu's Foot)
- Manja (Cave of Hands)
- Larngibunja (Cave of Fishes)
- Ngamadjidj (Cave of Ghosts - the same word as that used for white people)
- Gulgurn Manja (Flat Rock)
The rock art was created by Jardwadjali and Djab Wurrung peoples, and while Aboriginal communities continue to pass on knowledge and cultural traditions, much Indigenous knowledge has also been lost since European settlement of the area from 1840. The significance of the right hand prints at Gulgurn Manja is now unknown.[15]
One of the most significant Aboriginal cultural sites in south-eastern Australia is
Dual naming of features has been adopted in the park based on Jardwadjali and Djab Wurrung names for rock art sites and landscape features, including:[18]
- Grampians / Gariwerd (mountain range)
- Mount Zero / Mura Mura (little hill)
- Halls Gap / Budja Budja
- Mount Stapylton / Gunigalg
- Mount Difficult / Gar
Recreation
Gariwerd and the Grampians National Park has been a popular destination for recreation and tourism since the middle of the nineteenth century. According to Wilkie, the extension of railways to nearby Stawell, Ararat and Dunkeld were an important factor in the mountains' increasing popularity in the early twentieth century; growing car ownership and the construction of tourist roads in the ranges during the 1920s were also significant.[19]
Gliding
Mount William is known within the gliding community for the "Grampians Wave", a weather phenomenon that sometimes enables glider pilots to reach extreme altitudes of the order of 28,000 ft (8,500 m). This predominantly occurs during the months of May, June, September and October when strong westerly winds flow at right angles to the ridge, and produce a large-scale standing wave.[20]
Rock climbing
The Grampians is a famous rock climbing destination, with the first routes being established in the 1960s.[21] Notable routes include The Wheel of Life (V15 / 35) and Groove Train (33) which attract world class climbers.[22] Australian adventurer Jon Muir regards the Grampians, along with the Arapiles, as near perfect in their combination of access, climate and type of rock.[23]
In March 2019, 30% of climbing areas were closed by Parks Victoria due to cultural and ecological concerns, namely bolting, chalk marks, and making access paths through vegetation.[24][21][25] It closed 70% of bouldering routes, and 50% of sport climbing.[26]
Parks Victoria were accused by climbers of exaggerating damage and acting heavy handedly by pitting them against
Bushwalking
In 2015 Parks Victoria started building the 164 km Grampians Peaks Trail.[29] The trail, which takes inspiration from popular Tasmanian trails, is designed to take 13 days to walk and crosses the length of the park.[30] It was officially opened on 12 November 2021.[31]
The most popular walking area for day trippers is the Wonderland area near Halls Gap. In summer the ranges can get very hot and dry. Winter and spring are the best times for walking. The Wonderland area is also host to "The Grand Canyon" on the "Wonderland Loop" on one of the tracks to the "Pinnacle".
In spring, the Grampians wildflowers are an attraction. Colloquially known as the ‘garden of Victoria’, the Grampians is home to 975 native plant species (including more than 75 orchid species), representing one third of the total Victorian flora, and many of these species are only found in the Grampians, including the Grampians pincushion lily (Borya mirabilis), one of the rarest native lilies in Australia.[3]
Tourist centres
The Brambuk National Park and Cultural Centre in
Food and Wine Festival
Grampians National Park is home to one of Australia's longest running food and wine festivals, Grampians Grape Escape, held over the first weekend of May in Halls Gap every year. Launched in 1992, the Grampians Grape Escape is a hallmark event for Victoria and provides food and wine offerings by more than 100 local artisan producers, live music and family entertainment.[33]
Natural disasters
A major
Further reading
- Wilkie, Benjamin (2020). Gariwerd: An Environmental History of the Grampians. Melbourne: CSIRO Publishing ISBN 9781486307685
- Wettenhall, Gib and Pouliot, A. (2007). Gariwerd: Reflecting on the Grampians. Ballarat: Empress.
- Wettenhall, Gib (1999). The People of Gariwerd: The Grampians' Aboriginal Heritage. Melbourne: Aboriginal Affairs Victoria.
- Calder, Jane (1987). The Grampians: A Noble Range. Melbourne: Victorian National Parks Association.
- Paton, Alistair & Paton, Bruce (2004). Discovering Grampians-Gariwerd : a visitor's guide to Grampians National Park. Carlton, Vic.: Victorian National Parks Association ISBN 9781875100187
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 0-7311-3131-2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.)
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help - ^ "Aboriginal Placenames 7. Reviving old Indigenous names for new purposes". Australian National University. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d "National Heritage Places - Grampians National Park (Gariwerd)". Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Australian Government. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- ^ "Gariwerd/Grampians". Budja Budja Aboriginal Cooperative. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
- ^ "Native Tribes of South-East Australia". Wikisource. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ ISBN 9781486307685.
- ISBN 9781486307685.
- ^ Wilkie, Benjamin (2018). "Rights, reconciliation, and the restoration of Djabwurrung and Jardwadjali names to Grampians-Gariwerd". Victorian Historical Journal. 89 (1): 113–135.
- ^ "Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park". Vicnames. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ^ a b "Australian Stratigraphic Units Database, Geoscience Australia". Australian Stratigraphic Units Database. Australian Government. Geoscience Australia. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- ^ ISBN 0730103153.
- ^ "Climate statistics for Grampians (Mount William)". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ "Grampians National Park (Gariwerd), Victoria" (PDF). Australian Government. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
- ^ C.F.M. Bird and D. Frankel, 2005. An Archaeology of Gariwerd. From Pleistocene to Holocene in Western Victoria. Tempus 8. (Archaeology and Material Culture Studies in Anthropology) University of Queensland, St Lucia.
- ^ "A compelling case for beauty". The Age. 28 December 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
- ^ "Aboriginal Victoria, Grampians, Victoria, Australia". Visit Victoria. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- ^ "Bunjil Shelter - Stawell, Attraction, Grampians, Victoria, Australia". Visit Victoria. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- ^ Ian D. Clark and Lionel L. Harradine, The restoration of Jardwadjali and Djab Wurrung names for rock art sites and landscape features in and around the Grampians National Park Archived 27 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Melbourne, Vic. : Koorie Tourism Unit, 1990.
- ISBN 9781486307685.
- ^ "Wonderland Loop (25km) - TRAIL HIKING AUSTRALIA". TRAIL HIKING AUSTRALIA. 26 July 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ a b Slavsky, Bennett (21 March 2019). "Australia's Grampians National Park Announces Sweeping Climbing Closures". Climbing Magazine.
- ^ "Jorg Verhoeven Sends Groove Train (33/5.14b) - Grampians, Australia". Rock and Ice. 29 February 2016.
- ^ a b Ferguson, John (27 November 2020). "Hanging in the balance". The Weekend Australian Magazine. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ "Battle rages over Grampians as rock climbers banned to protect Indigenous art". ABC News. 29 April 2019.
- ^ a b "Climbing Bans in the Grampians". Vertical Life. 14 February 2019.
- ^ "Save Grampians Climbing | Assist efforts in restoring access to world renowned climbing areas in the Grampians National Park".
- TheGuardian.com. 2 July 2019.
- ^ "Reconciliation - Vertical Life". Archived from the original on 7 August 2019.
- ^ The Grampians: world’s next epic trek a peak attractionArchived 14 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "144-kilometre walking track to showcase the highlights of the Grampians". 22 June 2015.
- ^ "The Grampians Peaks Trail is officially open!". www.parks.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- ^ About Brambuk National Park and Cultural Centre, Brambuk National Park and Cultural Centre website. Accessed 25 November 2008
- ^ "2014 Grampians Grape Escape | Victorian Government". Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- Thomas, Tyrone. 50 Walks in the Grampians. 5. Melbourne: Hill of Content, 1995.
External links
- Parks Victoria: Grampians National Park page
- Official Grampians Tourism website
- Grampians Grape Escape website
- Australian National Heritage listing for Grampians National Park
- Visit Grampians Youtube Videos
- Heritage Victoria - Grampians National Park