PAWS
Newsletter
for Parks and Wildlife Supporters
Issue 14 Autumn 2007
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| Sydney Harbour National Park | |||||||||
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It must have been
like entering paradise on that summer afternoon when the sea-worn convoy
passed through the dun and barren headlands into the untouched harbour
- the water brilliantly blue, the shores high and wooded without being
precipitous, a scattering of islands, sandy beaches, the trees shimmering
under the sun...” Today, the shores of Sydney Harbour are fringed by the city’s skyline and exclusive waterfront suburbs. Only a fraction of the native bushland that once covered the hills and islands, and few relicts of Sydney’s convict era remain. Much of what is left from those early days, however, is now protected within Sydney Harbour National Park. Among this park’s greatest treasures are
The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife has looked after this living legacy for more than three decades.
The Little Penguin colony in Sydney Harbour is the only mainland colony in NSW and one of few known colonies to inhabit a major city in the world. Because of many dangers and the small size of the colony, about 60 breeding pairs, it was listed as an endangered population. Since 2005 captive-bred
penguins have been regularly released into the colony to boost population
numbers. Since monitoring started in 2000, the number of penguins has remained constant despite the impacts of oil spills, foxes and dogs. If you want to help the Little Penguins call us today on 02 9221 1949 or click here to donate online. Thank you!
The more you know, the more you see. The Discovery program makes a visit to national parks twice as much fun. Ranger guided tours open visitors’ eyes to plants, wildlife, geological wonders and historical sites, like Fort Denison . Discovery tours include activities such as spotlighting run in all national parks during school holidays. The Foundation kick-started this program by funding the pilot program. Through the centuries Fort Denison went by many names. The Aboriginal people called the island Mat-te-wan-ye, Governor Phillip called it Rock Island, and later it became known as Pinchgut. When the fort was built the island gained its current name after the Governor William Denison. Fort Denison is an icon of the harbour and of the Foundation’s work to preserve Australia’s cultural heritage. Through sponsorship from EnergyAustralia the Foundation helped fund the restoration of the buildings, the installation of the museum and the restaurant facilities. The project preserved this icon of European history and made it accessible for the public. |
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Noxious weeds pose a serious threat to our wildlife. Most weeds are garden plants gone feral. Their seeds are spread by wind or birds or simply from garden waste that is dumped in native bushland. If uncontrolled they smother native plants on which native wildlife depends for food and shelter, and often provide habitat for pest animals. The Foundation has funded many bush regeneration projects around Sydney Harbour, including Chowder Bay foreshores in Mosman and Nielsen Park in Vaucluse. The Nielsen Park She-oak Allocasuarina portuensis is Australia’s most endangered plant and only found in Nielsen Park, a small area of Sydney Harbour National Park. Foundation bush regeneration funds helped maintain the habitat for this plant. Your donation will help us fund urgent bush regeneration work at Bottle and Glass Point on the Hermitage Foreshore. To help, simply give us a call on 02 9221 1949 or click here to donate online. Thank you! |
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Built in 1816 as a base for the supervision of Government boats within the Government Dockyard, Cadman’s Cottage is one of Sydney’s oldest buildings. It also served as the office of the water police, and in 1849 it was gazetted as a Court of Petty Sessions. In the following decades Cadman’s Cottage was used as a Police lock-up, office of the charitable Sailors’ Home Trust, a home for retired sea captains and until the 1960s it provided accommodation for officers of visiting merchant ships. In years to follow it became first the head office of the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife and serves now as the Sydney Harbour National Park Information Centre. To preserve this beautiful example of convict sandstone architecture, the Foundation provided funds for the restoration of the building and for an archaeological dig. |
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