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Plants, animals and landscape
The O'Hares Creek catchment has been recognised as an important waterway and is listed in Environment Australia's Directory of Important Wetlands and on the Register of the National Estate.
Native plants
Vegetation ranges from tall eucalypt forests to stunted woodlands and windswept heath. Small patches of rainforest and extensive sedgeland and swamps on boggy soils add to the variety of vegetation to be found in this area. Over 500 plant species occur in the reserve and O'Hares Creek catchment is home to 17 species listed as vulnerable, rare or threatened.
Native animals
A number of threatened animals are also found in the adjacent Dharawal Nature Reserve. These include broad-headed snakes, koalas, long-nosed potoroos and green and golden bell frogs. The swamps support a diversity of animal life, being important habitat for swamp wallabies, eastern wallaroos, marsupial mice, New Holland honeyeaters, swamp rats, frogs, crayfish and many insect species.
The park landscape: geology and landforms
The rugged Hawkesbury sandstone plateau dominates the landscape through which O'Hares Creek and Stokes Creek wind their paths. The spectacular gorge country in the north-west contrasts with sweeping sedgelands and islands of shale forest in the south-east. O'Hares Creek is the dominant feature of the conservation area's central section. It is the only major watercourse draining Woronora Plateau with a catchment area that's still in an excellent state of preservation. The catchment contains a number of large upland swamps where a range of fossils have been found in the sediment.
List of animals recorded in the park
Bioregion information
A bioregion is basically a group of landscapes that have a lot in common. Bioregions can cover millions of hectares, but looking across them, you'll find many similarities in climate, geology, soils, landforms, vegetation and other environmental factors.
This park is in the following bioregions, and you can use the links below to get bioregion overview information. You won't find detailed coverage of the park here, but you will get a general impression of the wider landscapes the park lies within.
Culture and history
Aboriginal heritage
The area has cultural significance as the home of the Dharawal Aboriginal people. The adjacent nature reserve contains protects several Aboriginal sites, such as well-preserved drawings, stencils, axe-grinding grooves and paintings. Three of these sites have been listed on the Register of the National Estate.
The land and waterways, and the plants and animals that live in them, feature in all facets of Aboriginal culture - including recreational, ceremonial, spiritual and as a main source of food and medicine. They are associated with dreaming stories and cultural learning that is still passed on today. We work with local Aboriginal communities to protect this rich heritage.
To find out more about Aboriginal heritage in the park, you can get in touch with the local Aboriginal community. Contact the park office for more details.
History in the park
Prior to gazettal as a state recreation area and nature reserve in 1996, the area was managed as a water catchment area by Sydney Water. Two existing underground coalmining leases held by BHP Coal continue to operate in the recreation area. Restricted public access for 70 years has kept the area largely undisturbed.