Sydney Harbour National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sydney Harbour National ParkNew South Wales |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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Headlands, Sydney Harbour
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 Sydney Harbour National Park
Location in New South Wales
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| Nearest town or city | Sydney |
| Established | 4 April 1975 |
| Area | 3.92 km2 (1.5 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Sydney Harbour National Park |
| See also | Protected areas of New South Wales |
The Sydney Harbour National Park is a special place in Sydney, Australia. It's a national park that includes parts of Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), its shores, and several islands. This park covers about 392 hectares (that's like 968 football fields!). It's located in New South Wales and was gradually created starting in 1975.
The park protects many beautiful spots like Bradleys Head, Clark Island, Fort Denison, Goat Island, Nielsen Park, and parts of the Sydney Heads (the entrance to the harbour). It also looks after the water between North Head and Dobroyd Head, which is called the North Sydney Harbour Aquatic Reserve. Some parts of the park are even outside the harbour, facing the big Tasman Sea. The park is managed by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
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Why Was the Park Created?
For many years, homes and buildings were built all along the harbour's edge. This meant that a lot of the natural foreshore was lost. However, some areas were saved because they were used as military bases. Also, many people who cared about nature, called conservationists, worked hard to protect these places.
One early example was in the 1800s, when conservationists stopped mining at Ashton Park. Another important person was Niels Nielsen. He was a politician in New South Wales and strongly believed that the harbour foreshores should be a public reserve for everyone to enjoy. He even used the term "national park" for the harbour areas, which was a very new idea at the time!
How Did the Park Come to Be?
Even though some damage had been done, there was still a lot of nature to save. The 1960s were a very busy time for protecting these areas. In 1965, the government of New South Wales started buying land around the harbour. Then, in 1968, the National Trust suggested creating a national park.
The next year, the government announced a plan to buy land from the Australian government around the harbour. Finally, the Sydney Harbour National Park was officially created in 1975. More land was added over time, like Nielsen Park in 1978 and the important quarantine station at Manly in 1984.
What Can You See and Do?
The Sydney Harbour National Park is famous for its calm beaches and lovely picnic spots. It also has a rich history, showing us about Aboriginal culture, early European settlements, and military history. The park also protects special water areas and harbour islands.
Aboriginal Heritage
The park holds special places for Aboriginal people, like the Guringai Resting Places at Reef Beach and the Quarantine Station. These are sites where the remains of ancestors have been returned to their traditional lands. To respect the Aboriginal community, access to these specific burial sites is limited.
Historic Military Sites
You can find old military forts and batteries in the park. Places like the Georges Head Battery, Fort Denison, and areas at North and South Heads show how Sydney was protected long ago. At the Quarantine Station, there are old carvings and over a thousand drawings made by people who stayed there.
Other Interesting Places
The park also has historic buildings like Greycliffe House. This house was built in the 1850s at Shark Bay by the Wentworth family. You can also see the mast of the first HMAS Sydney at Bradleys Head, which is a piece of Australian naval history. And don't forget the swimming beach at Nielsen Park, where you can also find a restaurant and a cafe!
