Sturt National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sturt National Park |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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| Nearest town/city | Tibooburra |
| Coordinates | 29°05′37″S 141°30′31″E / 29.09361°S 141.50861°E |
| Area | 3106.34 km² |
| Established | February 25, 1972 |
| Managing authorities | New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service |
| Official site | Sturt National Park |
Sturt National Park is a huge park in the northwest of New South Wales, Australia. It's about 1059 kilometers (658 miles) northwest of Sydney. The park is named after Charles Sturt, an explorer who traveled through this area in 1845.
This park was created in the 1970s. It was made from six very large sheep and cattle farms, called "stations." Some of these stations were Mount Wood, Olive Downs, Whitta Brinna, Mount King, Binerah Downs, and Fort Grey.
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Exploring Sturt National Park
Sturt National Park is really big, covering over 340,000 hectares (840,000 acres) of dry land. The park has different types of landscapes.
Eastern Plains and Wetlands
In the eastern part of the park, you'll find flat areas that sometimes flood. There are also some trees, small rocky gorges, and dry creek beds. Lake Pinnaroo, which is near Fort Grey, is a special wetland. It's protected by an international agreement called the Ramsar Convention because it's important for birds and other wildlife.
Central "Jump-Ups"
The middle part of the park, close to the old Olive Downs sheep station, has cool landforms called "jump-ups." These are flat-topped hills, like giant tables, that rise up to 150 meters (492 feet) above the flat plains.
Western Sand Dunes
In the far western part of the park, the stony plains change into red sand dunes. These dunes are part of the Strzelecki Desert.
History and Visiting the Park
The Mount Wood Station was once a massive farm, covering 500,000 acres (202,343 hectares). It used to have 86,000 sheep and employed 100 people!
Mount Wood Homestead
Today, the old buildings at Mount Wood have been fixed up. There's even an outdoor farm museum where you can learn about the past. The historic homestead, built in 1884, is now a place where up to 15 tourists can stay. The old house where the sheep shearers lived can hold 38 people.
Camping in the Park
If you love camping, there are places to set up your tent at Dead Horse Gully near Tibooburra. You can also camp at Olive Downs, Fort Grey, and Mount Wood.
Cameron's Corner
Cameron's Corner is a very remote but popular spot for visitors. It's where the borders of three Australian states meet: New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland. It's a unique place to visit!
Sturt National Park was even shown on a British TV documentary called "Planet Earth."
Wildlife in Sturt National Park
You can see many different animals roaming around Sturt National Park.
Kangaroos and Euros
Red Kangaroos, Western Grey Kangaroos, Eastern Grey Kangaroos, and Euros are common throughout the park. Keep an eye out for them as you explore!
Gallery
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Sturt National Park near Olive Downs Station "Jump Up" country
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Sturt National Park near Olive Downs Station "Jump Up" country
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Sturt National Park - Dingo Fence- Camerons Corner
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Gibber plain in Sturt National Park
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Dry bed of Lake Pinnaroo
Images for kids
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The Mt. Wood shearers quarters after 10mm of rain
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A Crest-tailed Mulgara, re-discovered in Sturt NP in 2017 during wildlife surveys undertaken as part of the Wild Deserts program
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