Gull Rock National Park

Gull Rock National Park
Western Australia
IUCN category II (national park)

Gull Rock Beach
Gull Rock National Park
Nearest town or city Albany
Coordinates 35°00′27″S 118°00′12″E / 35.00750°S 118.00333°E / -35.00750; 118.00333Coordinates: 35°00′27″S 118°00′12″E / 35.00750°S 118.00333°E / -35.00750; 118.00333
Established 2006
Area 21.04 km2 (8.1 sq mi)[1]
Managing authorities Department of Environment and Conservation
See also List of protected areas of
Western Australia

Gull Rock National Park is a small national park situated 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Albany in Western Australia. It was established in 2006, becoming Western Australia's 97th national park in the process. It is around 2,593 hectares (6,407 acres) in area. The area is backed by King George Sound to the south, Oyster Harbour to the west, Taylor Inlet to the east and farmland to the north.[2]

The area is an almost unspoilt example of coastal east Kalgan vegetation system. Composed of granite headlands separated by sandy beaches with lakes and interdunal wetlands, the area contains a number of specific ecosystems. Rocky granite areas exist, including Mount Taylor and Mount Martin, both of which are part of the Gardner Landform unit. Endangered species such as the noisy scrub-bird, western bristlebird and the western whipbird are known to inhabit the area.[3]

Areas of banksia woodland, sheoak forest, open heath and grassed dunes can all be found within the park. Notable flora include Banksia coccinea, Hakea elliptica, Allocasuarina trichodon, Agonis marginata and Dryandra formosa. The area is home to the most significant remaining stands of scarlet banksia, Banksia coccinea, in the region.[4]

The rare and ancient Main's assassin spider, currently listed as threatened, was found to inhabit the park during a survey conducted in 2008.[5]

The park takes its name from a small island off Ledge Beach, which is not part of the park. Boiler Bay is at the eastern edge of Ledge Beach.[4]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gull Rock National Park.
  1. "Department of Environment and Conservation 2009–2010 Annual Report". Department of Environment and Conservation. 2010: 48. ISSN 1835-114X.
  2. Minister's office (5 July 2006). "Albany gets WA's newest national park". Department of Environment and Conservation website. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
  3. "Gull Rock National Park (entry AHD18036)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. 1991. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  4. 1 2 "Gull Rock National Park". Department of Parks and Wildlife. 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  5. "Verve Energy Media release - Exciting fin of rare assassins spider found on WA South Coast" (PDF). 2008. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
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