Gibraltar Falls

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Gibraltar Falls
Gibraltar Falls 8.JPG
Gibraltar Falls
Australia Capital Territory location map.svg
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Gibraltar Falls
Location Namadgi National Park, Australian Capital Territory
Coordinates 35°32′15″S148°52′42″E / 35.53750°S 148.87833°E / -35.53750; 148.87833 Coordinates: 35°32′15″S148°52′42″E / 35.53750°S 148.87833°E / -35.53750; 148.87833
Type Cascade
Total height50 metres (160 ft)
Watercourse Gibraltar Creek

The Gibraltar Falls are a cascade waterfall on the Gibraltar Creek, in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), approximately 50 kilometres (31 miles) from Canberra's city centre, [1] [2] [3] The falls have a 50-metre (160-foot) drop.

Contents

Location and features

In Namadgi National Park, [4] the falls are near Corin Road in the Gibraltar Creek Pine Forest. A gravel track from a nearby car park provides access to a lookout to view the falls. [5] [6] There are a number of walking trails near the falls. [7] Near the falls is a car park, public toilets, and a picnic shelter with a gas barbecue. [8]

The falls have a 50-metre (160 ft) drop. [3]

There is not much drainage on Gibraltar Falls, though water will still fall from the falls during drought conditions. [2] [9] Three Glossy Black-Cockatoos were spotted at the falls in November 2000. These birds are not frequently found in the territory. [10]

The falls were depicted in the 1966 oil painting titled Rescue at Gibraltar Falls, by John Perceval, with Australian National University landscape architect serving as a model for the figure found in the painting. [1] Bushwalks used to take place to get to the falls. [9] The Australian Heritage Commission commissioned a report on the falls called "An archaeological investigation of the Gibraltar Falls recreation area, A.C.T." [11] Axe grinding grooves have been found at the falls. [12]

Fauna and Flora

The falls is a habitat of the ACT rare Austral pillwort, [13] a fern with thread-like leaves, [14] and the vulnerable Alpine Redspot Dragonfly. [13] [15]

Gibraltar Falls / Woods Reserve Area

The falls is part of the Gilbralter Falls / Woods Reserve Area that is listed on the Register of the National Estate and the ACT National Heritage of Australia list. [12] It is about 170ha in area and is located about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) West North-west of Tharwa. [16]

Incidents

In 2023 a 19-year-old died after falling off the cliffs and into the water. [17]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Allen, Traudi; Perceval, John (1992). John Perceval. Melbourne University Publish. p. 166. ISBN   978-0-522-84495-5 . Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Gibraltar Falls (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Australia)". World-of-waterfalls.com. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Upgrade to walking trail at Gibraltar Falls recreation area". Cmd.act.gov.au. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  4. ↑ Siseman, John (1 January 1988). Alpine walking track: Walhalla to Canberra. Pindari Publications. p. 146. ISBN   978-0-9587874-0-6 . Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  5. ↑ "Woods Reserve". Territory and Municipal Services. Archived from the original on 16 April 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
  6. ↑ "Gibraltar Falls". Visit Canberra. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  7. ↑ Wheeler, Tony (August 1986). Australia, a travel survival kit. Lonely Planet. pp. 87–89. ISBN   978-0-908086-73-3 . Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  8. ↑ Armstrong, Elizabeth K. (2008). "Tourism destination recovery after the 2003 Canberra fires" (PDF). p. x. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  9. 1 2 "What People are Doing". The Canberra Times . 15 December 1953. p. 4. Retrieved 25 October 2012– via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ Holliday, Steve (December 2004). "The Glossy Black-Cockatoo in the Australian Capital Territory" (PDF). Canberra Bird Notes. 29 (4): 126. ISSN   0314-8211. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 September 2009.
  11. ↑ Hiscock, P; Feary, Sue; Australian Heritage Commission (1984), An archaeological investigation of the Gibraltar Falls recreation area, A.C.T.: a report to the Australian Heritage Commission, ANUTECH, retrieved 21 November 2012
  12. 1 2 Rodney Garnett; Danielle Hyndes, eds. (1992). The Heritage of the Australian Capital Territory. National Trust of Australia (ACT). p. 2. ISBN   978-0-95949-415-0. OCLC   38323685.
  13. 1 2 "Gibraltar Falls / Woods Reserve Area". dmzapp17p.ris.environment.gov.au. Department of the Environment and Energy. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  14. ↑ "Austral Pillwort – profile". environment.nsw.gov.au. NSW Office of Environment & Heritage. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  15. ↑ "Alpine Redspot Dragonfly – Austropetalia tonyana". dpi.nsw.gov.au. NSW Department of Primary Industries. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  16. ↑ "Gibraltar Falls / Woods Reserve Area, Corin Rd, Tharwa, ACT, Australia". environment.gov.au. Department of the Environment and Energy. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  17. ↑ McPhee, Sarah (12 February 2023). "Teenager dies after falling at waterfall in the ACT". The Age. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
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