A sprawling landscape unfolds before you. This is Wianamatta Regional Park. Established in March 2008 it occupies 765 hectares. This wasn’t always a national park.
Wianamatta Regional Park has a fascinating past. It sits on the site of the old St Marys Australian Defence Industries ADI area. Imagine munitions factories and bustling activity. Now the park is a haven for native wildlife.
The park’s history is visible throughout. You’ll see overgrown roads abandoned factory buildings and large mounds. These are remnants of the ADI site. The master plan shows a much larger area stretching from Tregear to Cranebrook. Only the Ropes Crossing section is open to the public now. You can still find traces of the past though like the old Ropes Creek Station at Reserve 1026.
As you walk you’ll transition through various landscapes. Bushland gives way to overgrown roads and abandoned structures. The paths are relatively flat. But keep an eye out for the mounds they’re part of the park’s unique story.
Wianamatta Regional Park is more than just history. It’s a refuge for a variety of Australian plants. Many are native some are not. Keep your eyes peeled for kangaroos birds and frogs. Emus also call this park home.
This park is a rare refuge. It’s one of the few places in the world where the endangered nodding geebung shrub thrives. Wianamatta Regional Park also protects temperate eucalypt woodland. Several endangered ecological communities are found here. They include threatened and regionally significant plant and animal species. This includes pea-flowers grevilleas various bat species and the Cumberland Plain land snail.
Remember pets are not permitted here. And this is a no smoking area. Let’s continue our exploration of Wianamatta Regional Park. It offers stunning scenic walks like the Great West Walk along Luxfords Trail. A 9.3km return trail taking you through regenerating woodlands and remnants of the St Marys Munitions Filling Factory. Explore this tranquil landscape. Discover the incredible biodiversity. Enjoy the unique blend of nature and history. This is Wianamatta Regional Park a fascinating destination.