Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Site

Description

The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia formerly known as the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves, are the most extensive area of subtropical rainforest in the world. The reserve includes 50 separate reserves totaling 3,665 square km, clustered around the New South Wales - Queensland border.

The Gondwana Rainforests are so-named because the fossil record indicates that when Gondwana existed it was covered by rainforests containing the same kinds of species that are living today. The number of visitors to the reserve is about 2 million per year.

The forests were inscribed to the World Heritage list in 1986, covering only the New South Wales sites of approximately 3108 km² and extended in 1994 to cover the Queensland sites of approximately 592 km² which is a total of approximately 3700km². The rainforest reserves have an extremely high conservation value, with more than 200 rare or threatened plant and animal species.

Eight separate areas have been identified as having outstanding heritage significance to Australia and are included on the Australian National Heritage List. The altitude of the reserves ranges from sea level to almost 1,600 m (5,200 ft).

The Queensland areas include Lamington National Park, Mount Chinghee National Park, Springbrook National Park, Mount Barney National Park and Main Range National Park.

The New South Wales areas include Barrington Tops National Park, Dorrigo National Park, Mount Warning National Park, New England National Park, Mebbin National Park, Nightcap National Park, Border Ranges National Park, Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, Washpool National Park, Willi Willi National Park and Werrikimbe National Park.

The most heavily visited parts are Dorrigo National Park and the Natural Bridge section of Springbrook National Park.

The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia are divided into sections as below for listing on the Australian National Heritage List.

Near Killarney, Queensland

On the New South Wales—Queensland border

On the New South Wales—Queensland border on the McPherson Range and Tweed Ranges

Iluka Nature Reserve is on the coast at Iluka, New South Wales.

Contiguous areas between Glen Innes, New South Wales and Grafton, New South Wales

Near Dorrigo, New South Wales

Southeast of Armidale, New South Wales

North of Dungog, New South Wales

Australian fossil mammal sites:1 Naracoorte

Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens

Coordinates: 28°15′00″S 150°03′00″E / 28.250°S 150.050°E / -28.250; 150.050