Munmorah State Conservation Area

Munmorah State Conservation Area New South Wales
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
File:Birdie Beach and Lake Munmorah.jpg
Munmorah State Conservation Area
Nearest town or city	Wyong
Coordinates
Established	1 January 1977 (1977-01-01)
Area	15.3 km2 (5.9 sq mi)
Managing authorities	NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
See also	Protected areas of New South Wales

Munmorah State Conservation Area is located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. The area's coastal setting and panoramic views, perched sand dunes, diverse vegetation communities, protected threatened species and migratory bird habitats and opportunities for nature based recreation and opportunities for educational and scientific study were cited as reasons for the reserve's creation. The reserve is part of the Tuggerah Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for a variety of water and woodland birds.

Places of interest

• Birdie Beach (Includeas area for unclad bathing).
• Tea Tree Picnic Area - Gas barbecues
• Frazer Beach
• Palms Picnic Area
• The Palms Walking Track
• Wybung Trig Lookout
• Snapper Point

History

The land now occupied by Munmorah State Conservation Area was first inhabited by the Darkinjung people and the Awabakal people, the Indigenous Australians. The Darkinjung occupied the southern section and the Awabakal occupied the northern section. It is believed Europeans first discovered the Tuggerah Lakes in 1796. It was found by Governor of Tasmania, Colonel David Collins, who had arrived on the First Fleet during the search for an escaped convict woman, Mary Morgan, who was said to be living with the Aborigines to the North of the Hawkesbury River.

Large areas of forest in the Conservation Area were burnt out during bushfires in October 2013.

See also

• Protected areas of New South Wales (Australia)

External links

• Department of Environment and Climate Change page on Munmorah State Conservation Area