Waratah Park facts for kids

Waratah Park is a special place in Duffys Forest, New South Wales, Australia. It used to be a wildlife sanctuary and is now owned by the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council. It's famous for being the filming location of the TV show "Skippy the Bush Kangaroo". This park is so important that it's listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register since 2015.

Park History

Aboriginal Land Connection

Waratah Park is located on the traditional lands of the Guringai people. This Aboriginal nation lived from Broken Bay to Sydney Harbour before European settlement in 1788. The Garrigal and Terramerragal clans were part of the Guringai people.

When the British First Fleet arrived in Sydney, Governor Phillip explored Broken Bay, near Waratah Park. He noted how friendly the Aboriginal people were. However, when he returned a year later, many had fled due to smallpox. By the 1840s, very few Aboriginal people lived in the traditional way in this area.

Today, Aboriginal people still live in this area and across Sydney. The nearby Ku-ring-gai National Park is very important for its natural beauty and the many Aboriginal sites found there.

European Settlement and "Skippy"

In the early 1800s, European settlers used the Ku-ring-gai area for timber and boat building. They also collected materials like salt.

In the 1880s, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, next to Waratah Park, became Australia's first nature reserve. This happened because Eccleston Du Faur worked hard to protect its native plants from growing towns. Waratah Park itself was not part of the national park then, but it remained undeveloped Crown land.

The Home of Skippy the Bush Kangaroo

In 1967, a large area of undeveloped land, including what is now Waratah Park, became the fictional "Waratah National Park." This was the main filming location for the popular TV series "Skippy the Bush Kangaroo". Filming started in May 1967 after getting permission from the government and local council.

The show also used parts of the nearby Ku-ring-gai National Park. The Ranger Headquarters building, where the characters lived, was built just for the series. It was used for both outside and inside scenes. Roads, power, and water were added, along with a helipad. The Australian bush provided a beautiful background for the show.

Matt Hammond, played by Ed Devereaux, was the head ranger. He was a widower with two sons, Mark (played by Ken James) and Sonny (played by Garry Pankhurst). Sonny's best friend was Skippy, the smart kangaroo. Other characters included helicopter pilot Jerry King (played by Tony Bonner) and later, scientist Dr. Anna Steiner (played by Elke Neidhardt) and schoolgirl Clancy Merrick (played by Liza Goddard). Aboriginal actors from Arnhem Land also appeared in some episodes.

Skippy was a very special kangaroo. She wasn't a pet but lived freely in the park. Sonny found her as a baby after her mother was killed. Skippy was incredibly smart. She could understand people, open doors, carry things, and even rescue people! Her famous "tchk tchk tchk" sound was made up for the show, as real kangaroos don't make that noise.

Many other animals like dingoes, possums, emus, and koalas were also part of the show. They were all trained by Scotty Denholm. While there was only one "Skippy" in the story, several kangaroos were used for filming different scenes. Sometimes, actors had to gently guide the kangaroos to get them to move.

The show's producer, Lee Robinson, wanted each story to show the importance of protecting wildlife. The theme music for Skippy was written by Eric Jupp.

"Skippy" was produced by Fauna Productions. This company was started by John McCallum, Bob Austin, and Lee Robinson. "Skippy" became very successful, and Fauna Productions went on to make other TV shows and movies.

A "Skippy" movie, "The Intruders", was filmed in 1968, mostly at Waratah Park. It was a popular adventure story for fans.

"Skippy" was one of the first Australian shows to have lots of merchandise. You could buy Skippy pajamas, toys, comics, and even Skippy moneyboxes! The show was loved because it was "wholesome, family-type entertainment."

"Skippy" won several awards, including a Logie Special Award for Best Export Production in 1968. All three series and the movie are available on DVD.

Ninety-one episodes were made, and production ended in 1969. The show was sold to 128 countries and is still shown in some places today!

Waratah Park After Skippy

After filming stopped, Waratah Park opened to the public in 1970 as an "animal park and entertainment area." Visitors could see kangaroos, koalas, and other wildlife. They could also walk through the Ranger Headquarters and see the original film set.

Waratah Park was a popular tourist spot for over 30 years. In 2006, the park closed down. All the wildlife was moved.

In 2011, a local group called the Duffys Forest Residents Association started caring for Waratah Park. Volunteers worked hard to remove weeds and protect the bushland. They loved the park because it was the "Home of Skippy."

In 2014, Waratah Park became owned by the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council. They plan to make it a center for Aboriginal culture and environmental education. They are restoring the park with the help of volunteers.

What You Can See at Waratah Park

Waratah Park is about 12.6 hectares of bushland next to Ku-Ring-Gai National Park. Here are some things you can find there:

• The original Ranger Headquarters building from 1967, which still has the "Skippy" TV set inside.
• Nearby, there's a small service building, a large BBQ area, a shed, and a play area.
• A large octagonal building, probably from the 1970s, used as a gatehouse.
• Two small mobile homes and a shed.
• Parts of old wildlife enclosures and fences.

The most important parts for heritage are the Ranger Headquarters building with the "Skippy" TV set, and the surrounding bushland.

Plants and Animals

Waratah Park and the land next to it are home to many threatened plant and animal species. You might find these here:

Plants

• Epacris purpurascens var. purpurascens (coastal heath)
• Tetratheca glandulosa (heath)
• Melaleuca deanii (Deane's honey bracelet myrtle)
• Pimelea curvifolia
• Lasiopetalum joyaceae
• Grevillea caleyi (Caley's spider flower)
• Eucalyptus camfieldii (Camfield's gum)

Animals

• Glossy black cockatoo
• Southern brown bandicoot
• Eastern pygmy possum
• Heath monitor (a type of lizard)
• New Holland mouse
• Red-crowned toadlet
• Powerful owl
• Giant burrowing frog

Park Condition

The Ranger Headquarters building is in good condition, though it looks a bit old. The "Skippy" set inside has been carefully preserved. The bushland around the building is very important. Volunteers have worked hard to keep it healthy by removing weeds and protecting it from wild animals. Other buildings in the park are in different conditions but are not as important for its heritage listing.

Why Waratah Park is Special

Waratah Park is important because:

• It's the actual place where the famous "Skippy the Bush Kangaroo" TV show was filmed from 1967 to 1969. This show was a huge success around the world.
• The park still has parts of the TV set, like the bushland and the Ranger's Headquarters building with its inside set.
• Many people in Australia and other countries loved watching "Skippy" and feel a special connection to this image of the Australian bush.
• It's rare to find a bushland site that became famous worldwide and helped people learn about the Australian landscape.
• The Ranger's Headquarters building is rare because it's a surviving TV set from the 1960s with its original interior still there.

Waratah Park was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on February 27, 2015, because it meets these important criteria.