Brindabella Range

Not to be confused with Brindabella National Park or Brindabella Valley.

Brindabella Range
The Brindabellas
Mount Ginini, part of the Brindabellas, in the ACT.
Highest point
Peak	Bimberi Peak
Elevation	1,913 m (6,276 ft) ^[1] AHD
Coordinates	35°35′39″S 148°47′21″E / 35.59417°S 148.78917°E / -35.59417; 148.78917
Dimensions
Length	100 km (62 mi) N-S
Width	5 km (3.1 mi) E-W
Geography
Location of the Brindabella Range on the ACT/NSW border
Country	Australia
State/territory	New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory
Range coordinates	35°33′S 148°46′E / 35.55°S 148.77°E / -35.55; 148.77Coordinates: 35°33′S 148°46′E / 35.55°S 148.77°E / -35.55; 148.77

The Brindabella Range, commonly called The Brindabellas, is a mountain range located in Australia, on a state and territory border that separates New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).^[2] The range rises to the west of Canberra, the capital city of Australia, and includes the Namadgi National Park in the ACT and the Bimberi Nature Reserve and Brindabella National Park in New South Wales. The Brindabellas are visible to the west of Canberra and form an important part of the city's landscape.

Location and features

The Brindabella Range is located in the northern tip of the Australian Alps bioregion, marking the dividing line with the southern tip of the South Eastern Highlands bioregion and the eastern limits of the Riverina. The northern point of the range is Mount Coree, situated 34 kilometres (21 mi) west-northwest of Canberra. From this point the range heads generally south, towards the eastern watershed of the Murrumbidgee River, in a line that marks the western edge of the ACT border with NSW. The most southern point of the range is approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) west of Piccadilly Circus in the Australian Capital Territory. The range is located adjacent to the Bag Range, Baldy Range, Codys Ridge, Dingi Dingi Ridge and Webbs Ridge.^[3] Scabby Range lies to the south.

The geology of the range comprises block-faulted granites and Palaeozoic metamorphic rocks. There are small areas of Tertiary basalt with buried river gravels and lake sediments. The typical characteristics of the range include low-relief high plains with steep margins and slopes and fault aligned river valleys with deep gorges and waterfalls. Soils in the range change with altitude. At lower levels in forests, texture contrast soils are the norm. In the sub-alpine snow gum areas deep gradational soils with moderate amounts of organic matter are common.^[4]

Vegetation changes with altitude, aspect, cold air drainage and soil saturation. Low elevations with dry aspects carry red stringybark, white gum, broad-leaved peppermint, candlebark and brittle gum. Moist sites have alpine ash, mountain gum, narrow-leaved peppermint, manna gum and brown barrel, with tree ferns, blackwood and sassafras in gullies. Between 1,000–1,500 metres (3,300–4,900 ft) alpine ash and mountain gum dominate and abruptly change to sub-alpine snow gum woodlands, heath, grasslands and bogs between 1,500–1,800 metres (4,900–5,900 ft). Common species include snow grasses, leafy bossiaea, yellow kunzea, alpine pepper and sphagnum bogs, with candle heath and swamp heath. Alpine herbfield and rare feldmark communities are found above the tree line at 1,800 metres (5,900 ft). Common species include prickly snow grass, alpine wallaby grass, silver snow daisy, ribbony grass, white purslane, eyebrights, gentians and buttercups. Most alpine species have a limited range.^[4]

Peaks

The highest mountain within the range is Bimberi Peak at 1,913 metres (6,276 ft).^[1] Other prominent peaks include Mount Gingera at 1,857 metres (6,093 ft),^[5] Mount Ginini at 1,762 metres (5,781 ft),^[6] Mount Franklin at 1,646 metres (5,400 ft),^[7] Mount Aggie at 1,421 metres (4,662 ft),^[3] Mount Coree at 1,421 metres (4,662 ft),^[8] Mount Bramina at 1,392 metres (4,567 ft), Bulls Head at 1,375 metres (4,511 ft), Black Bottle Mountain at 1,356 metres (4,449 ft), Mount Lickhole at 1,188 metres (3,898 ft), and Brindabella Mountain at 972 metres (3,189 ft).^[3]

Nature reserves and national parks

The range straddles both the Brindabella National Park, within New South Wales, and the Namadgi National Park, within the ACT and covers an area of 213.6 square kilometres (82.5 sq mi). The Brindabella Valley, in the middle of the range, is 40 kilometres (25 mi) south-west of Canberra and 350 kilometres (220 mi) from Sydney. The valley is on the edge of the Snowy Mountains and the Goodradigbee River flows through the valley.

History

The traditional custodians of the area now known as the Brindabella Range are the Ngunnawal, Walgalu and Djimantan indigenous peoples. The Brindabella Valley, located in New South Wales to the west of the range, was first settled by Europeans as a stock outstation for the Yarralumla station in the 1830s, with the first land grant made in 1849.^[9] Gold was found in 1860 and mined from the 1880s. In 1887 the Brindabella Gold Mining Company was formed and mining continued until 1910.^[10] The valley is now an agricultural area and consists of a number of small cattle farms including the heritage-listed Brindabella Station, the childhood home of Miles Franklin, an early 20th-century Australian author.^[9]

Australian author Miles Franklin grew up in the Brindabella Valley and wrote an autobiographical work, Childhood at Brindabella, which told of her early life in the valley.^[9]

Etymology

The name brindabella is said to mean “two kangaroo rats” in the language of the local Aborigines. However, another account states that "Brindy brindy" was a local term meaning water running over rocks and bella was presumably added by the Europeans as in "bella vista".

Snow country

The city of Canberra looking towards the Brindabella Range.

The most northerly ski fields in Australia are located in the Brindabella Range and include the Namadgi National Park in the ACT and Bimberi Nature Reserve and Brindabella National Park in New South Wales. The highest mountain in the ACT is Bimberi Peak, which lies above the treeline at 1,912 metres (6,273 ft), at the northern edge of the Snowy Mountains.^[11]

A ski chalet was constructed at Mount Franklin in 1938 to service the Canberra Alpine Club.^[12] Ski runs were cleared and ski tows were improvised.^[13] The chalet later operated as a museum before being destroyed in the 2003 Canberra bushfires.^[14] A new shelter designed and built by University of Adelaide students opened in 2008. Today, cross country skiing is possible in the area, when conditions allow.^[15] Cross Country skiing is also practised at Mount Gingera, which rises above the city of Canberra to an elevation of 1,857 metres (6,093 ft), and is the most prominent snow-covered peak above the city.^[16]^[17]

Snow play is available at Corin Forest, near Canberra, at an elevation of 1,200 metres (3,900 ft). A development plan was drafted following the 2003 bushfires which would see three 600 metres (2,000 ft) chairlifts installed together with snowmaking facilities and accommodation at this site.^[18]

Gallery

Goodradigbee River in the Brindabella valley.
The road to Mount Franklin, ACT, was built by the Canberra Alpine Club in the 1930s.

References

1 2 "Bimberi Peak, Australian Capital Territory". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
↑ Bimberi Nature Reserve - plan of management (PDF) (Report). New South Wales Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water. p. 3. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
1 2 3 "Map of Brindabella Range, NSW". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
1 2 "The Bioregions of New South Wales – their biodiversity, conservation and history" (PDF). Chapter 17. The Australian Alps Bioregion. Department of the Environment. p. 222. Retrieved 4 April 2014. |chapter= ignored (help)
↑ "Mount Gingera, Australia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
↑ "Mount Ginini, Australia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
↑ "Mount Franklin, Australia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
↑ "Mount Coree, Australia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
1 2 3 "Brindabella". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
↑ Grigg, Ian (November 1999). "Brindabella Blues". Gold Net Australia Online. Kent Town, South Australia. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
↑ "Highest Mountains". Geoscience Australia. Australian Government. 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
↑ "Bimberi Nature Reserve". Australian Alps National Parks. Australian Government. 2013.
↑ "Mt Franklin Open Day". What's On for Members. Canberra Alpine Club. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
↑ "Canberra Alpine Club history". Canberra Alpine Club. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
↑ "Namadgi National Park". Australian Alps National Parks. Australian Government. 2013.
↑ "Namadgi National Park". Holiday in Australia. Tourism Australia. 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
↑ "Instrument No. 111 of 1999" (PDF). Public Place Names Act 1989. ACT Government. 1999. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20090912180014/http://www.corin.com.au/futurePlans.htm. Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2009. Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

"Brindabella National Park". Australian Alps National Parks. Australian Government. 2013.

List of mountains and prominent hills in the Australian Capital Territory

Brindabellas

Bimberi	Bimberi Little Bimberi

Arawang
Atkinson
Black Spring
Blundell
Burbidge
Coree
Franklin
Gingera
Ginger Ale
Ginini
Gudgenby
Mavis Ridge
McKeahnie
Namadgi
Sentry Box
The Pimple

Other major
ranges

Scabby	Kelly Scabby

Tidbinbilla	Tidbinbilla

Not within
a defined range

Mountains in New South Wales, Australia

Coastal mountain ranges
(not part of the
Great Dividing Range)

Mid North Coast	Middle Brother (554 m or 1,818 ft) South Brother (487 m or 1,598 ft) North Brother (476 m or 1,562 ft)

Allyn, Barrington & Mount Royal	Brumlow Tops (1,586 m or 5,203 ft) Polblue (1,575 m or 5,167 ft) Barrington (1,555 m or 5,102 ft) Careys Peak (1,544 m or 5,066 ft) Eremeren Point (1,537 m or 5,043 ft) Royal (1,185 m or 3,888 ft) Allyn (1,125 m or 3,691 ft) Cabrebald (1,000 m or 3,281 ft) Ben Bullen Gunama Lumeah

Gibraltar and Sugarloaf	Summit (1,170 m or 3,839 ft) Sugarloaf (412 m or 1,352 ft) Bulahdelah Manning

Blue Mountains	Coricudgy (1,255 m or 4,117 ft) unnamed peak (1,189 m or 3,901 ft) Pomany (1,109 m or 3,638 ft) Piddington (1,094 m or 3,589 ft) Boyce (1,093 m or 3,586 ft) York (1,061 m or 3,481 ft) Victoria (1,059 m or 3,474 ft) Banks (1,049 m or 3,442 ft) Tomah (1,016 m or 3,333 ft) Wilson (1,008 m or 3,307 ft) Kings Tableland (1,000 m or 3,281 ft) Narrow Neck Plateau (1,000 m or 3,281 ft) Castle Cliff (986 m or 3,235 ft) Solitary (950 m or 3,117 ft) Hay (944 m or 3,097 ft) Podgers (890 m or 2,920 ft) Irvine (850 m or 2,789 ft) Debert (840 m or 2,756 ft) Camp Cave (800 m or 2,625 ft) Warrigal (760 m or 2,493 ft) Notts (750 m or 2,461 ft) Harris (736 m or 2,415 ft) Centre (620 m or 2,034 ft) Hall (617 m or 2,024 ft) Gibson (608 m or 1,995 ft) Scorpion (558 m or 1,831 ft) Linda Rock (599 m or 1,965 ft) Cookem (569 m or 1,867 ft) Gospers Bedford Cameron Coriaday Erskine Mistake Monundilla Whaite Wirraba Pearces Wedding Cake

Illawarra	Bells (803 m or 2,635 ft) Knights Hill (709 m or 2,326 ft) Noorinan (663 m or 2,175 ft) Saddleback (600 m or 1,969 ft) Wanyambilli Hill (564 m or 1,850 ft) Kembla (534 m or 1,752 ft) Burelli (531 m or 1,742 ft) Kembla West (512 m or 1,680 ft) Brisbane (469 m or 1,539 ft) Keira (464 m or 1,522 ft) Warra (464 m or 1,522 ft) Brokers Nose (440 m or 1,444 ft) Nebo (252 m or 827 ft)

The Budawangs	Budawang (1,129 m or 3,704 ft) Currockbilly (1,087 m or 3,566 ft) Wog Wog (893 m or 2,930 ft) Cole (876 m or 2,874 ft) Sturgiss (858 m or 2,815 ft) Fosters (857 m or 2,812 ft) Barneys Hill (855 m or 2,805 ft) The Castle (831 m or 2,726 ft) Shrouded Gods (809 m or 2,654 ft) Donjon (786 m or 2,579 ft) Clyde (781 m or 2,562 ft) Quiltys (775 m or 2,543 ft) Wirritin (674 m or 2,211 ft) Pigeon House / Didthul (720 m or 2,362 ft) Bushwalker (640 m or 2,100 ft) Byangee (500 m or 1,640 ft) Coolangatta Tarn

Great Dividing Range

Tweed

Warning (1,156 m or 3,793 ft)
Bar (1,130 m or 3,707 ft)
Glenugie (316 m or 1,037 ft)
Chincogan (260 m or 853 ft)
Gladstone
Goobergooberyam
Moombil

McPherson and Nightcap

Barney (1,359 m or 4,459 ft)
Burrell 933 m or 3,061 ft)
Neville (919 m or 3,015 ft)
Nardi (812 m or 2,664 ft)
Matheson (804 m or 2,638 ft)
Peates (604 m or 1,982 ft)

Mid North Coast

Banda Banda (1,258 m or 4,127 ft)

Nandewar

Kaputar (1,489 m or 4,885 ft)
Dowe (1,457 m or 4,780 ft)
Lindesay (1,373 m or 4,505 ft)
Grattai (1,301 m or 4,268 ft)
Bushy (1,260 m or 4,134 ft)
Round (1,250 m or 4,101 ft)
Yulludunida (1,225 m or 4,019 ft)
Castle Top (1,120 m or 3,675 ft)
Gins (1,120 m or 3,675 ft)
Ningadhun (1,013 m or 3,323 ft)

Liverpool and Watagan

unnamed (1,300 m or 4,265 ft)
Pandoras Pass (788 m or 2,585 ft)
Warrawolong (641 m or 2,103 ft)

New England and Moonbi

Round (1,585 m or 5,200 ft)
Point Lookout (1,564 m or 5,131 ft)
Ben Lomond (1,512 m or 4,961 ft)
Grundy (1,463 m or 4,800 ft)
Barren (1,437 m or 4,715 ft)
Hyland (1,434 m or 4,705 ft)
Duval (1,393 m or 4,570 ft)
Black Jack (1,300 m or 4,265 ft)
Gulligal (1,230 m or 4,035 ft)
Oaky (1,070 m or 3,510 ft)
Cooee (1,020 m or 3,346 ft)
Flaggy (984 m or 3,228 ft)
Big Billy (884 m or 2,900 ft)
Dorrigo (762 m or 2,500 ft)
Burning (520 m or 1,706 ft)
Yarrowyck

Central Tablelands

Canobolas (1,395 m or 4,577 ft)
Shooters Hill (1,394 m or 4,573 ft)
Bindo (1,363 m or 4,472 ft)
Trickett (1,362 m or 4,469 ft)
Blaxland
Hopeless

The Brindabellas and Scabby

Bimberi (1,913 m or 6,276 ft)
Gingera (1,857 m or 6,093 ft)
Kelly (1,829 m or 6,001 ft)
Ginini (1,762 m or 5,781 ft)
Franklin (1,646 m or 5,400 ft)
Aggie (1,421 m or 4,662 ft)
Coree (1,421 m or 4,662 ft)
Bramina (1,392 m or 4,567 ft)
Bulls Head (1,375 m or 4,511 ft)
Black Bottle (1,356 m or 4,449 ft)
Lickhole (1,188 m or 3,898 ft)
Brindabella (972 m or 3,189 ft)

Monaro

Big Badja (1,363 m or 4,472 ft)
Brown (1,243 m or 4,078 ft)
Gibraltar (Bungendore) (887 m or 2,910 ft)
Gibraltar Hill

Snowies

Main	Kosciuszko (2,228 m or 7,310 ft) Townsend (2,209 m or 7,247 ft) unnamed peak on Etheridge Ridge (2,180 m or 7,152 ft) Alice Rawson Peak (2,160 m or 7,087 ft) Byatts Camp (2,159 m or 7,083 ft) Carruthers (2,145 m or 7,037 ft) Abbott Peak (2,145 m or 7,037 ft) Mount Northcote (2,131 m or 6,991 ft) Muellers Peak (2,120 m or 6,955 ft) Clark (2,100 m or 6,890 ft) Lee (2,100 m or 6,890 ft) Gungartan (2,068 m or 6,785 ft) Tate (2,068 m or 6,785 ft) Jagungal (2,061 m or 6,762 ft) Perisher (2,054 m or 6,739 ft) Stilwell (2,040 m or 6,693 ft) Watsons Crags (2,020 m or 6,627 ft) Back Perisher (2,014 m or 6,608 ft) Anton (2,000 m or 6,562 ft) Anderson (1,997 m or 6,552 ft) Blue Cow (1,994 m or 6,542 ft) The Granite Peaks (1,980 m or 6,496 ft) Dicky Cooper Bogong (1,980 m or 6,496 ft) Gills Knobs (1,940 m or 6,365 ft) Guthega Peak (1,924 m or 6,312 ft) Blue Calf (1,905 m or 6,250 ft) Sentinel (1,900 m or 6,234 ft) Mount Piper (1,830 m or 6,004 ft) Round (1,756 m or 5,761 ft)

Ramshead	Rams Head (2,190 m or 7,185 ft) Twynam (2,178 m or 7,146 ft) Rams Head North (2,177 m or 7,142 ft) Little Twynam (2,120 m or 6,955 ft)

Other mountains in the GDR

Yengo (668 m or 2,192 ft)

Inland mountain ranges

Barrier	Lewis Peak (297 m or 974 ft)

Warrumbungles	Exmouth (1,206 m or 3,957 ft) Woorut (1,165 m or 3,822 ft) Needle

Other inland mountains	Grenfell Gibralter Hill

Island mountain ranges

Lord Howe	Gower (875 m or 2,871 ft) Lidgbird (777 m or 2,549 ft)

Mountains not within a specific range

Gibraltar (863 m or 2,831 ft)
Gulaga (806 m or 2,644 ft)
Ulandra (761 m or 2,497 ft)
Tilga (329 m or 1,079 ft)
Oxley (307 m or 1,007 ft)

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