Wallumatta

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Wallumatta was the original name given to the Ryde-Hunters Hill area of the Lower North Shore of Sydney, Australia. Prior to the time that the area was known as Kissing Point, Wallumatta was the formal title [1] and was named in honour of the area's native inhabitants: The Wallumettagal Aboriginal tribe.

The Lower North Shore refers to the northern suburbs of Sydney adjoining Sydney Harbour. The three bodies of water that surround the Lower North Shore are Lane Cove River on its western border, Sydney Harbour on its south side, and Middle Harbour on its east. The Lower North Shore borders the Upper North Shore when the Lane Cover River and Middle Harbour are at their closest.

The Wallumettagal or Wallumedegal tribe was an indigenous Aboriginal tribe that inhabited the area of Sydney today known as the Ryde–Hunters Hill area of the Northern Suburbs. Common Aboriginal names in this part of Lower Northern Sydney also include Willandra and Jacaranda. Specifically the region is described as "North shore of the Parramatta River, including the City of Ryde, from the intersection of the Lane Cove River and west to Parramatta." The Wallumedegal are listed as part of the Eora.

Indigenous Australians are the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia, descended from groups that existed in Australia and surrounding islands before British colonisation. The time of arrival of the first Indigenous peoples on the continent and nearby islands is a matter of debate among researchers. The earliest conclusively human remains found in Australia are those of Mungo Man LM3 and Mungo Lady, which have been dated to around 50,000 years BP. Recent archaeological evidence from the analysis of charcoal and artefacts revealing human use suggests a date as early as 65,000 BP. Luminescence dating has suggested habitation in Arnhem Land as far back as 60,000 years BP. Evidence of fires in South-West Australia suggest 'human presence in Australia 120,000 years ago', although more research is required. Genetic research has inferred a date of habitation as early as 80,000 years BP. Other estimates have ranged up to 100,000 years and 125,000 years BP.

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Although present-day demographics indicate that less than 0.4% of the City of Ryde has Aboriginal background, [2] the name Wallumatta survives in modern-day street names in Newport and Caringbah, as well as in Lower Northern Sydney at the Wallumatta Nature Reserve in North Ryde. Several community groups have also been named after Wallumatta, including the Wallumetta Scout Fellowship. [3]

City of Ryde Local government area in New South Wales, Australia

The City of Ryde is a local government area that services certain suburbs located within the Northern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It was first established as the Municipal District of Ryde in 1870, became a municipality in 1906 and was proclaimed as the City of Ryde in 1992.

North Ryde, New South Wales Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

North Ryde is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Ryde is located 15 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Ryde. North Ryde is in the Northern Suburbs region of Sydney.

Wallumatta Nature Reserve

Wallumatta Nature Reserve, North Ryde Wallumatta 03.jpg
Wallumatta Nature Reserve, North Ryde
Wallumatta Nature Reserve, North Ryde Wallumatta Nature Reserve.jpg
Wallumatta Nature Reserve, North Ryde
Wallumatta Nature Reserve, North Ryde Wallumatta 02.jpg
Wallumatta Nature Reserve, North Ryde

The Wallumatta Nature Reserve is a small and critically endangered remnant of preserved bushland located at the corner of Twin and Cressy Roads, North Ryde, and is significant for being the largest remaining expanse of endangered Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest, which is an ecological community of plants unique to the Sydney bioregion.

Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest

The Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest (STIF) is one of six main indigenous forest communities of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, that is typically in the Inner West region of Sydney. It is also among the three of these plant communities which have been classified as Endangered, under the New South Wales government's Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, with only around 0.5% of its original pre-settlement range remaining. As of 26 August 2005, the Australian Government reclassified Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest as a "Critically Endangered Ecological Community", under the Commonwealth's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

A bioregion is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone, but larger than an ecoregion or an ecosystem, in the World Wildlife Fund classification scheme. There is also an attempt to use the term in a rank-less generalist sense, similar to the terms "biogeographic area" or "biogeographic unit".

With the arrival of European settlement this small reserve was originally part of the Field of Mars Reserve in 1804. During the 1950s it was part of a larger parcel of land set aside for further development of the North Ryde Psychiatric Centre (now Macquarie Hospital) In the 1980s the Macquarie Hospital Bushland was saved from further building development.

Field of Mars Reserve Protected area in New South Wales, Australia

The Field of Mars Reserve is a protected nature reserve located in the north–western suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The 50 Hectare reserve is a remnant of bushland situated between the Lane Cove and Parramatta rivers within the suburb of East Ryde and near Gladesville, Hunters Hill and Ryde.

The reserve is an important resource for scientific research and environmental education. It is popular with botanists, nature lovers, school excursions. Dedicated bushcare groups help preserve this valuable remnant of original bushland.

The 6.2ha reserve features a clearly signposted 0.6 km walking trail. It is open to the public daily from sunrise to sunset, subject to fire danger or bad weather. Admission is free. [4]

The heartland of this type of forest once covered some 26,000 hectares west to Guildford, and North of Parramatta River from Ryde to Castle Hill, as well as on the shale ridge caps in the Hornsby Plateau and into areas of the inner western suburbs. [5]

Guildford, New South Wales Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Guildford is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Guildford is located 25 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Cumberland Council. Guildford is part of the Greater Western Sydney region. Guildford is the home of the first KFC in Australia.

Parramatta River River in Australia

The Parramatta River is an intermediate tide dominated, drowned valley estuary located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. With an average depth of 5.1 metres (17 ft), the Parramatta River is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, a branch of Port Jackson. Secondary tributaries include the smaller Lane Cove and Duck rivers.

Ryde, New South Wales Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Ryde is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Ryde is located 13 km north-west of the Sydney central business district and 8 km east of Parramatta. Ryde is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Ryde and part of the Northern Suburbs area. It lies on the north bank of the Parramatta River.

See also

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The Cooks River/Castlereagh Ironbark Forest (CRCIF) is an area of open forest and low woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion, which was gazetted as a critically Endangered Ecological Community on 10 May 2002. There are just 1011 hectares left. It is dominated by Broad-leaved Ironbark and Paperbark. The main threat is further clearing for development, as well as weed invasion, inappropriate fire regime, damage from vehicles, and impacts from surrounding development. Fencing also prevents wildlife movement and increases injuries and deaths. There is also the potential of Clay/shale extraction. Beverly Grove Bushland is 1.87ha of remnant bushland between Canterbury Golf Course and the M5 East Motorway. It is one of the larger patches of the CRCIF and has been preserved as an offset for the construction of the M5 East. Despite this, 1.4ha of the site has been proposed as a construction compound for Stage 2: King Georges Road Interchange and New M5 of WestConnex.

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Wallumatta Nature Reserve Protected area in New South Wales, Australia

Wallumatta Nature Reserve is a small bushland area in suburban Sydney, Australia. Comprising 6.195 hectares, it is surrounded by the residential suburb of East Ryde. Once part of the Field of Mars of 1804, the reserve is the largest surviving area of Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest, an endangered ecosystem. Soils are based on Ashfield Shale and Hawkesbury Sandstone.

References

  1. ↑ "Wallumatta Nature Reserve history".
  2. ↑ "Australian Bureau of Statistics 2019 Census".
  3. ↑ "Sydney North Region Scouts - Wallumetta Scout Fellowship". sydneynorthscouts.com. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  4. ↑ https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/wallumatta-loop-trail
  5. ↑ NSW Department of Environment & Climate Change (February 2004). "ENDANGERED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY INFORMATION: Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest" (PDF). NSW Department of Environment & Climate Change website. Ryde City Council . Retrieved 2 July 2007.

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