LesueurNational Park

LesueurNationalParkLesueurNationalParkwasnamedafterCharles-AlexandreLesueur,anaturalhistoryartistaboardtheNaturalisteonHamelin’s1801expedition.

TheFrenchgovernmentcommissionedthesistershipsNaturalisteandGeographetochartthoseareasofthecoastnotdocumentedbyCaptainJamesCook.Manyfeaturesalongthewestcoastbearthenamesofmembersofthatexpedition,includingMountPeron(theexpedition’snaturalist)andMountMichaud(thebotanist-gardener).JurienBaywasnamedafterCharlesMarie,VicompteJurien,anavaladministratoratthetime.

LesueurNationalParkcovers26,987hectaresandismanagedbytheDepartmentofConservationandLandManagement(CALM).Itsstatusasanationalparkrecognisesthearea’soutstandingconservation,landscapeandrecreationalimportance.Thiswasidentifiedinthe1950s,whentheGovernmentbotanistCharlesGardner,concernedbytheeffectsofagriculture,recommendedthecreationofareserve.TheareasurroundingMtLesueurwasreservedforeducationalpurposes,butproposalsforanationalparkoranaturereservewerestalledbecauseofthearea’sprospectivecoalresources.Theparkwasgazettedon24January1992followingpublicpressuretostopamajorcoalminingdevelopment.

GeologyLesueurNationalParkis24kmacrossandhasawiderangeofgeologicalformations,landscapesandsoiltypes.Thesevaryfromsaltlakesandremnantcoastaldunesinthenorth-westthroughtolateriteridgesintheeast.Thispartlyexplainsthehugediversityofflorainthepark.

Caring for the parkStay on the road: Follow the signs in the park and keep to thetracks marked in this brochure. Other tracks in the park are formanagement access only. If you drive on them, you riskintroducing and spreading dieback disease into other areas ofthe park.

Be careful: Your enjoyment and safety in natural environmentsis our concern, but your responsibility.

Be clean: No bins are provided in this remote park. Please takeyour litter with you (and anyone else’s would be helpful!).

Stay cool: Don’t light wood fires. Portable gas stoves arepermitted.

Protect animals and plants: Firearms and pets are notpermitted in national parks, and please make use of the boot-baths.

For further informationNational park rangers are always pleased to help make your visitmore enjoyable and informative. Please do not hesitate tocontact them if you require any information or assistance.

CALM Cervantes CALM Jurien BayBradley Loop Lot 124 Bashford StreetCervantes WA 6511 Jurien Bay WA 6516Ph (08) 9652 7043 Ph (08) 9652 1911

Visit NatureBase at www.naturebase.net

FloraLesueurNationalParkboastsanexceptionallydiverserangeofflora,withmorethan900differentspeciescomprising10percentoftheState’sknownflora.TheparkhassevenspeciesofDeclaredRareFloraandninetaxafoundonlyinLesueur,aswellas111taxaendemictotheregionand81taxaattheirnorthernorsouthernlimits.Theparkeruptsintocolourinlatewinterandspringasacacias,hibbertias,leschenaultias,melaleucas,gastrolobiumsandorchidscometoflower.Themostcommonorchidstobeseenarepinkenamel,purpleenamel,cowslip,bluelady,whitespideranddonkeyorchids.Inspringseveralvarietiesofkangaroopawarepredominant.

Theparkconservesavarietyofvegetationtypes.Theexceptionallydiverselowheath,referredtoasKwonganbyAboriginalpeople,coversalargeportionofthepark.Creeklinesandlowareasarefilledwithwoodlandsofwandoo,red-gumandbanksia.LesueurNationalParkisabiodiversityhotspotandranksasoneofthemostimportantreservesforfloraconservationinWesternAustralia.

DiebackDieback(Phytophthoraspp.)isasoil-borne,water-mouldwhichinfectstherootsofplants,starvingthemofnutrientsandwater.Diebackisaseriousthreattothefloraofthepark.Lesueurisrelativelydiebackfree.Toensurethatitremainsthisway,andtoreducetheriskofintroducingthisdisease,bootcleaningstationshavebeenprovidedonwalktrailsinthepark.Asthefungusdoesnotpersistinlimerichsoils,limestonegabionshavebeenplacedintheparkdrainstoreducethethreatofintroducingthediseasethroughrunoff.

ReptilesSurveyshaveidentified52speciesofreptile,including41lizardspeciesand11snakespecies,inLesueurNationalPark.Researchhasrevealedthatthecoastalheathscontainthehighestreptilediversityofanyoftheworld’sMediterraneanclimateecosystems.Theparkisparticularlyrichingeckoesandleglesslizards,andcomparabletotheAustraliandesertswhicharerecognisedashavingtheworld’smostdiversereptilehabitats.Aswithplantsandbirds,manyreptilespeciesarefoundatthenorthernandsouthernlimitsoftheirknownrange.

Reptilesaregenerallymostactiveduringtheday,withtheexceptionofnocturnalgeckoes.

2006035-0606-40M

Front cover Mt Lesueur. Photo – Robert Garvey/CALM

Above Carnaby’s black cockatoo.

Left Wildflowers. Photos – Babs and Bert Wells/CALM

Information current at June 2006

AboveWandoowoodlands.Photo–RobertGarvey/CALM AboveMtLesueur.Photo–RobertGarvey/CALM

Information guide

RECYCLE Please return unwanted brochures to distribution points

LeftDwarfbeardeddragon.FarleftQueenofShebaorchid.Photos–BabsandBertWells/CALM

LesueurNational Park

LesueurNationalParkLesueurNationalParkwasnamedafterCharles-AlexandreLesueur,anaturalhistoryartistaboardtheNaturalisteonHamelin’s1801expedition.

TheFrenchgovernmentcommissionedthesistershipsNaturalisteandGeographetochartthoseareasofthecoastnotdocumentedbyCaptainJamesCook.Manyfeaturesalongthewestcoastbearthenamesofmembersofthatexpedition,includingMountPeron(theexpedition’snaturalist)andMountMichaud(thebotanist-gardener).JurienBaywasnamedafterCharlesMarie,VicompteJurien,anavaladministratoratthetime.

LesueurNationalParkcovers26,987hectaresandismanagedbytheDepartmentofConservationandLandManagement(CALM).Itsstatusasanationalparkrecognisesthearea’soutstandingconservation,landscapeandrecreationalimportance.Thiswasidentifiedinthe1950s,whentheGovernmentbotanistCharlesGardner,concernedbytheeffectsofagriculture,recommendedthecreationofareserve.TheareasurroundingMtLesueurwasreservedforeducationalpurposes,butproposalsforanationalparkoranaturereservewerestalledbecauseofthearea’sprospectivecoalresources.Theparkwasgazettedon24January1992followingpublicpressuretostopamajorcoalminingdevelopment.

GeologyLesueurNationalParkis24kmacrossandhasawiderangeofgeologicalformations,landscapesandsoiltypes.Thesevaryfromsaltlakesandremnantcoastaldunesinthenorth-westthroughtolateriteridgesintheeast.Thispartlyexplainsthehugediversityofflorainthepark.

Caring for the parkStay on the road: Follow the signs in the park and keep to thetracks marked in this brochure. Other tracks in the park are formanagement access only. If you drive on them, you riskintroducing and spreading dieback disease into other areas ofthe park.

Be careful: Your enjoyment and safety in natural environmentsis our concern, but your responsibility.

Be clean: No bins are provided in this remote park. Please takeyour litter with you (and anyone else’s would be helpful!).

Stay cool: Don’t light wood fires. Portable gas stoves arepermitted.

Protect animals and plants: Firearms and pets are notpermitted in national parks, and please make use of the boot-baths.

For further informationNational park rangers are always pleased to help make your visitmore enjoyable and informative. Please do not hesitate tocontact them if you require any information or assistance.

CALM Cervantes CALM Jurien BayBradley Loop Lot 124 Bashford StreetCervantes WA 6511 Jurien Bay WA 6516Ph (08) 9652 7043 Ph (08) 9652 1911

Visit NatureBase at www.naturebase.net

FloraLesueurNationalParkboastsanexceptionallydiverserangeofflora,withmorethan900differentspeciescomprising10percentoftheState’sknownflora.TheparkhassevenspeciesofDeclaredRareFloraandninetaxafoundonlyinLesueur,aswellas111taxaendemictotheregionand81taxaattheirnorthernorsouthernlimits.Theparkeruptsintocolourinlatewinterandspringasacacias,hibbertias,leschenaultias,melaleucas,gastrolobiumsandorchidscometoflower.Themostcommonorchidstobeseenarepinkenamel,purpleenamel,cowslip,bluelady,whitespideranddonkeyorchids.Inspringseveralvarietiesofkangaroopawarepredominant.

Theparkconservesavarietyofvegetationtypes.Theexceptionallydiverselowheath,referredtoasKwonganbyAboriginalpeople,coversalargeportionofthepark.Creeklinesandlowareasarefilledwithwoodlandsofwandoo,red-gumandbanksia.LesueurNationalParkisabiodiversityhotspotandranksasoneofthemostimportantreservesforfloraconservationinWesternAustralia.

DiebackDieback(Phytophthoraspp.)isasoil-borne,water-mouldwhichinfectstherootsofplants,starvingthemofnutrientsandwater.Diebackisaseriousthreattothefloraofthepark.Lesueurisrelativelydiebackfree.Toensurethatitremainsthisway,andtoreducetheriskofintroducingthisdisease,bootcleaningstationshavebeenprovidedonwalktrailsinthepark.Asthefungusdoesnotpersistinlimerichsoils,limestonegabionshavebeenplacedintheparkdrainstoreducethethreatofintroducingthediseasethroughrunoff.

ReptilesSurveyshaveidentified52speciesofreptile,including41lizardspeciesand11snakespecies,inLesueurNationalPark.Researchhasrevealedthatthecoastalheathscontainthehighestreptilediversityofanyoftheworld’sMediterraneanclimateecosystems.Theparkisparticularlyrichingeckoesandleglesslizards,andcomparabletotheAustraliandesertswhicharerecognisedashavingtheworld’smostdiversereptilehabitats.Aswithplantsandbirds,manyreptilespeciesarefoundatthenorthernandsouthernlimitsoftheirknownrange.

Reptilesaregenerallymostactiveduringtheday,withtheexceptionofnocturnalgeckoes.

2006035-0606-40M

Front cover Mt Lesueur. Photo – Robert Garvey/CALM

Above Carnaby’s black cockatoo.

Left Wildflowers. Photos – Babs and Bert Wells/CALM

Information current at June 2006

AboveWandoowoodlands.Photo–RobertGarvey/CALM AboveMtLesueur.Photo–RobertGarvey/CALM

Information guide

RECYCLE Please return unwanted brochures to distribution points

LeftDwarfbeardeddragon.FarleftQueenofShebaorchid.Photos–BabsandBertWells/CALM

LesueurNationalPark

Lesueur National ParkLesueur National Park was named after Charles-AlexandreLesueur, a natural history artist aboard the Naturaliste onHamelin’s 1801 expedition.

The French government commissioned the sister shipsNaturaliste and Geographe to chart those areas of the coast notdocumented by Captain James Cook. Many features along thewest coast bear the names of members of that expedition,including Mount Peron (the expedition’s naturalist) and MountMichaud (the botanist-gardener). Jurien Bay was named afterCharles Marie, Vicompte Jurien, a naval administrator at thetime.

Lesueur National Park covers 26,987 hectares and is managedby the Department of Conservation and Land Management(CALM). Its status as a national park recognises the area’soutstanding conservation, landscape and recreationalimportance. This was identified in the 1950s, when theGovernment botanist Charles Gardner, concerned by the effectsof agriculture, recommended the creation of a reserve. The areasurrounding Mt Lesueur was reserved for educational purposes,but proposals for a national park or a nature reserve werestalled because of the area’s prospective coal resources. The parkwas gazetted on 24 January 1992 following public pressure tostop a major coal mining development.

GeologyLesueur National Park is 24 km across and has a wide range ofgeological formations, landscapes and soil types. These varyfrom salt lakes and remnant coastal dunes in the north-westthrough to laterite ridges in the east. This partly explains thehuge diversity of flora in the park.

CaringfortheparkStayontheroad:Followthesignsintheparkandkeeptothetracksmarkedinthisbrochure.Othertracksintheparkareformanagementaccessonly.Ifyoudriveonthem,youriskintroducingandspreadingdiebackdiseaseintootherareasofthepark.

Becareful:Yourenjoymentandsafetyinnaturalenvironmentsisourconcern,butyourresponsibility.

Beclean:Nobinsareprovidedinthisremotepark.Pleasetakeyourlitterwithyou(andanyoneelse’swouldbehelpful!).

Staycool:Don’tlightwoodfires.Portablegasstovesarepermitted.

Protectanimalsandplants:Firearmsandpetsarenotpermittedinnationalparks,andpleasemakeuseoftheboot-baths.

ForfurtherinformationNationalparkrangersarealwayspleasedtohelpmakeyourvisitmoreenjoyableandinformative.Pleasedonothesitatetocontactthemifyourequireanyinformationorassistance.

CALMCervantesCALMJurienBayBradleyLoopLot124BashfordStreetCervantesWA6511JurienBayWA6516Ph(08)96527043Ph(08)96521911

VisitNatureBaseatwww.naturebase.net

FloraLesueur National Park boasts an exceptionally diverse range offlora, with more than 900 different species comprising10 percent of the State’s known flora. The park has seven species ofDeclared Rare Flora and nine taxa found only in Lesueur, as wellas 111 taxa endemic to the region and 81 taxa at their northernor southern limits. The park erupts into colour in late winter andspring as acacias, hibbertias, leschenaultias, melaleucas,gastrolobiums and orchids come to flower. The most commonorchids to be seen are pink enamel, purple enamel, cowslip, bluelady, white spider and donkey orchids. In spring several varietiesof kangaroo paw are predominant.

The park conserves a variety of vegetation types. Theexceptionally diverse low heath, referred to as Kwongan byAboriginal people, covers a large portion of the park. Creek linesand low areas are filled with woodlands of wandoo, red-gumand banksia. Lesueur National Park is a biodiversity hotspot andranks as one of the most important reserves for floraconservation in Western Australia.

DiebackDieback (Phytophthora spp.) is a soil-borne, water-mould whichinfects the roots of plants, starving them of nutrients and water.Dieback is a serious threat to the flora of the park. Lesueur isrelatively dieback free. To ensure that it remains this way, and toreduce the risk of introducing this disease, boot cleaningstations have been provided on walk trails in the park. As thefungus does not persist in lime rich soils, limestone gabionshave been placed in the park drains to reduce the threat ofintroducing the disease through runoff.

ReptilesSurveys have identified 52 species of reptile, including 41 lizardspecies and 11 snake species, in Lesueur National Park. Researchhas revealed that the coastal heaths contain the highest reptilediversity of any of the world’s Mediterranean climate ecosystems.The park is particularly rich in geckoes and legless lizards, andcomparable to the Australian deserts which are recognised ashaving the world’s most diverse reptile habitats. As with plantsand birds, many reptile species are found at the northern andsouthern limits of their known range.

Reptiles are generally most active during the day, with theexception of nocturnal geckoes.

2006035-0606-40M

FrontcoverMtLesueur.Photo–RobertGarvey/CALM

AboveCarnaby’sblackcockatoo.

LeftWildflowers.Photos–BabsandBertWells/CALM

InformationcurrentatJune2006

Above Wandoo woodlands. Photo – Robert Garvey/CALMAbove Mt Lesueur. Photo – Robert Garvey/CALM

Informationguide

RECYCLEPleasereturnunwantedbrochurestodistributionpoints

Left Dwarf beardeddragon.Far left Queen ofSheba orchid.Photos – Babs andBert Wells/CALM

BirdsThe Lesueur area supports a wide variety of bird life, with 122species of native birds and two introduced species recorded. Thisdiversity of bird species has been attributed to the wide variety ofhabitats in a large, undisturbed bushland area. Birds of thesandplain are particularly well represented with honeyeaters,thornbills, fairy wrens, southern emu-wrens, white-breasted wrensand calamanthus.

The woodlands of Lesueur have been identified as one of the fewremaining breeding habitats in the district for Carnaby’s blackcockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus latirostris). The closeproximity of breeding and feeding areas make Lesueur aparticularly important area for this species, as its population andrange are diminishing.

Many species are also at, or near, the northern limit of theirknown range, including western rosella, the little wattlebird andthe shy hylacola. The salt lakes and freshwater springs areimportant summer refuges for several species of water birds,including waders that migrate from the northern hemisphere.

MammalsFifteen species of native mammals inhabit Lesueur National Park,making it one of the State’s richest habitats for native mammals.Four species of dunnart (Sminthopsis spp.) and four species ofbat occur in the park. The honey possum is thought to be moreabundant here than in any other conservation reserve north ofPerth and is an important pollinator for many plants.

InsectsThe park is home to 29 species of jewel beetle, all of which areprotected. These insects can be distinguished by their brightmetallic colouring, usually yellow, blue, red or orange, and arebetween three and 65 mm long.

Above Female and male splendid fairy-wrens.Photo – Babs and Bert Wells/CALM

Left Wedge-tailed eagle. Photo – Robert Garvey/CALM

Below far left Jewel beetle. Photo – George Watson/CALM

Below left Honey possum. Photo – Babs and Bert Wells/CALM

ActivitiesAn 18.5 km one-way bitumen road takes you through the park,with regular lay-bys to enjoy the scenery and take photographs.Day-use areas where you can have a picnic lunch, bushwalk upMount Lesueur or wander down Cockleshell Gully are provided.When walking up Mt Lesueur, keep watch for wedge-tailed eagleswhich are one of Australia’s largest birds of prey. The first 250 mof the track is wheelchair friendly and offers a glimpse of theocean and spectacular views of Lesueur National Park.

Walktrails1. Carry appropriate quantities of food and water. There is no

drinking water provided in the park.

2. Avoid spreading dieback by remaining on marked tracks andusing boot cleaning stations provided at the start of all walktrails.

3. Contact CALM’s Jurien Bay office if you are planning anovernight walk in the park.

BirdsThe Lesueur area supports a wide variety of bird life, with 122species of native birds and two introduced species recorded. Thisdiversity of bird species has been attributed to the wide variety ofhabitats in a large, undisturbed bushland area. Birds of thesandplain are particularly well represented with honeyeaters,thornbills, fairy wrens, southern emu-wrens, white-breasted wrensand calamanthus.

The woodlands of Lesueur have been identified as one of the fewremaining breeding habitats in the district for Carnaby’s blackcockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus latirostris). The closeproximity of breeding and feeding areas make Lesueur aparticularly important area for this species, as its population andrange are diminishing.

Many species are also at, or near, the northern limit of theirknown range, including western rosella, the little wattlebird andthe shy hylacola. The salt lakes and freshwater springs areimportant summer refuges for several species of water birds,including waders that migrate from the northern hemisphere.

MammalsFifteen species of native mammals inhabit Lesueur National Park,making it one of the State’s richest habitats for native mammals.Four species of dunnart (Sminthopsis spp.) and four species ofbat occur in the park. The honey possum is thought to be moreabundant here than in any other conservation reserve north ofPerth and is an important pollinator for many plants.

InsectsThe park is home to 29 species of jewel beetle, all of which areprotected. These insects can be distinguished by their brightmetallic colouring, usually yellow, blue, red or orange, and arebetween three and 65 mm long.

Above Female and male splendid fairy-wrens.Photo – Babs and Bert Wells/CALM

Left Wedge-tailed eagle. Photo – Robert Garvey/CALM

Below far left Jewel beetle. Photo – George Watson/CALM

Below left Honey possum. Photo – Babs and Bert Wells/CALM

ActivitiesAn 18.5 km one-way bitumen road takes you through the park,with regular lay-bys to enjoy the scenery and take photographs.Day-use areas where you can have a picnic lunch, bushwalk upMount Lesueur or wander down Cockleshell Gully are provided.When walking up Mt Lesueur, keep watch for wedge-tailed eagleswhich are one of Australia’s largest birds of prey. The first 250 mof the track is wheelchair friendly and offers a glimpse of theocean and spectacular views of Lesueur National Park.

Walktrails1. Carry appropriate quantities of food and water. There is no

drinking water provided in the park.

2. Avoid spreading dieback by remaining on marked tracks andusing boot cleaning stations provided at the start of all walktrails.

3. Contact CALM’s Jurien Bay office if you are planning anovernight walk in the park.