HERITAGE NEWSLETTER OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS INC. JULY - AUGUST 2013 ISSUE No. 28 HERITAGE FOREST OF WOLLEMI PINES Many botanic gardens are increasingly becoming involved in conservation activities that integrate in situ and ex situ approaches to tree conservation, which are typically undertaken in partnership with other organisiations such as national park agencies, forest services, non-government organisations(NGOs) and local communities. (BGCI- Integrated Conservation of Tree Species: A reference manual) by Ross Ingram, Acting Curator Manager, Blue Mountains Botanic Garden In the early 1990s Blue Mountains Botanic Garden acquired almost 200 hectares of wilderness, adjoining and to the north of the existing garden. Following the discovery of the Wollemi Pine in 1994 and with the declaration of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area a few years later the acquisition took on even greater significance and opportunity. All of these changes precipitated the need for a review of the gardens View into rugged a gorge and selected planting site on Blue Mountain thematics to refocus the role and Botanic Garden conservation area. Photograph Greg Bourke function of the garden in a World One potential conservation strategy forest that would provide visitors Heritage area and to explore the is to establish ex situ populations in with a relatively safe and managed new opportunities and possibilities natural environments. To maximise “wild Wollemi experience”. arising from these changes. the effectiveness of this approach it is critical to understand how Access to the conservation area Into this context came an approach Wollemia responds to a broader has to date been challenging. from University PhD student Heidi range of environmental conditions. Zimmer in conjunction with the This requires an experimental The first obstacle was overcome Wollemi Pine Recovery group which approach. (Zimmer and Baker, with the donation of funding by the stimulated interest and the 2011) Friends of the Botanic Gardens for immediate possibility to initiate a a footbridge which made safe planting of some 200 trees. To After careful exploration and access across the highway quote Heidi’s report – research of a number of locations possible. To date, research of the natural within the conservation area, a site populations of Wollemia nobilis has which almost replicates the original Visitor access has been limited to been observational. discovery site, was identified and students participating in formal field the challenging task of planting out study trips and to those who were Studies on the natural history, and began prepared to book and pay for an morphology, biology, genetics and organised tour with a guide. phylogeny of Wollemia provides a fundamental understanding of the A new visitor The area is abundant with natural species and is a necessary experience attractions ranging from lush precursor to informing conservation rainforest to dry sclerophyll and strategies. With this planting project completed heath, ancient rock formations, successfully, the idea arose of wildflowers, dozens of bird species However, the current populations of creating another site using some and spectacular views. Wollemia exist in a relatively narrow very advanced trees not utilised in set of environmental conditions. the initial project to create an ex situ Continued page 3 HERITAGE 1 July - August 2013 Contents......... An opinion from the editor....... HERITAGE July - August 2013 Sealing of Cox’s Rd is *P1 Heritage Forest of Wollemi heritage vandalism by Pines by Ross Ingram *P2 Sealing of Cox’s Rd is local government heritage vandalism by local Plans by Blue Mountain City It is ironical, at the present time as government by John Leary Council to apply bitumen over the we commemorate and celebrate the *P4 ‘Crossing of the Blue unsealed parts of Old Bathurst bicentenary of the Western Mountains’ an outstanding Road (Cox’s Road), Woodford Crossings 2013-2015, that this exhibition by Jean Winston impregnating with tar, a road work which if it goes ahead will constructed of and on ultimately destroy one of the sandstone,198-years ago; can at earliest colonial road-lines which least be considered cavalier and at allowed the starving settlement at worst sheer heritage vandalism. Sydney to expand and open up the golden west of NSW. When one considers the wealth of misinformation that councillors and It is almost like a Bacchanalian senior staff spread, suggesting celebration of ancient Greece that this roadway had no heritage where after the festivities there significance and that ‘there is no followed a drunken orgy of crimes *P7 Council were set to destroy heritage listing at either local or and conspiracies. Here in the Blue heritage integrity of Cox’s state level’, it is well time that Mountains, after the Rd, Woodford by Jan someone should look at council’s commemoration and celebrations Koperberg and John Leary flow of information both within the of the achievements of the three *P8 Devotion - Sir Joseph and organisation and to the ratepayers feted explorers, an orgy of Dame Mary Cook and residents of this city. destruction of one of the only major *P9 Alice in Wonderland by heritage structures remaining from John Low, It has been claimed by several that period will follow. *P9 Longtime series descendants of the explorers that *P10 Sydney Rock - on the Ways pressure was brought upon them Many who live in this rustic setting to the West not to alert the media. as it might would prefer it to remain an *P11 RAHS Conference in affect the success of the unsealed road unattractive to the Katoomba celebrations. hoons likely to see it as a route to a *P12 Lithgow migration and bush rubbish tip or worse. The settlement study It is certain that every member of concerns of local residents need to *P13 Capt Cook’s pistol fetches Blue Mountains City Council’s be taken into account. The most $220,000 heritage advisory committee was serious concern is drainage after *P14 History at your fingertips aware of the listings and the summer storms. Sealing the road *P14 Polar trek made to measure heritage significance of this road on its own will only make the *P14 Plans to bring water into construction had council or its drainage problem faster and more the museum senior staff taken the trouble to destructive. The drainage concerns *P14 Aboriginal heritage grant consult with this body. can and should be addressed for Kandos Museum without having to seal the road. The simple fact is that the Cox’s *P15 Cronje the brumby brigand Road is listed on the State Council will now wait on an *P16 New Aboriginal heritage Heritage Inventory and in council’s archaeological report before taking tour at Blue Mountains Local Environment Plan 1991. further steps to seal the road; but Botanic Garden, Mt Tomah until councillors accept that *P17 “The biggest Estate on At council’s ordinary meeting of heritage is just more than a word to Earth: how Aborigines June 4, 2013 some councillors which they pay lip service, the made Australia” -a critique appeared to be in complete denial future of heritage conservation in by Andy Macqueen about these facts.They could not the Blue Mountains will sound very *P22 Focus on the George or did not want to understand, that hollow. With a little innovative Evans story the heritage value is in the road thought by council, Cox’s Road *P22 The sex lives of Australia --- construction itself, not in some could be equal to Old Great North a historical reflection cast-off shoe from Cox’s horse or a Road - World Heritage walk which *P22 Walk to the Cattle Rustlers’ broken clay pipe dropped by one features a historic convict-built, Yards of his convicts. some in chains, road overlooking *P24 Lynn Collins will facilitate the Hawkesbury River, in Dharug museums workshop There is a legal requirement on National Park. *P24 Across the Blue Mountains council to take note of this item in *P25 Western Crossings John Leary, OAM - the SHI and LEP 1991 and President, Blue Mountains *P26 Ancient Syrian sites certainly a moral obligation to Association of Cultural Heritage imperilled by war future generations. Organisations Inc. HERITAGE 2 July - August 2013 A wilderness walk plunging into a Wollemi gorge Continued from page 1 A circular walk Here was the opportunity to offer a through a variety truly unique visitor experience by of ecosystems creating a varied wilderness walk and features and with the chance to experience across different rainforest, open woodland and terrains will lead wildflowers, cliff edges, a magic walkers to the Angophora forest and then finally Wollemi grove plunging into a Wollemi gorge. which nests in a moist gully However, this is more than just beneath about providing visitors with a sandstone cliffs. pleasant, relatively safe ”emersion” in wilderness. The proposed boardwalk will st The botanic garden of the 21 minimize the century has a role and a impact of walkers, responsibility to address much more avoid erosion than simply providing visitors with problems and pleasant experiences and enable intimate displaying collections of plants in contact with the well organised high standard trees and horticultural displays. associated vegetation. Here is the chance to interpret and explain conservation, the nature Unfortunately the and importance of biodiversity, conservation area habitat, the relationship between is difficult terrain people and plants and the and access will be understanding of place - in a limited to relatively botanic garden managed fit and able wilderness. persons. Research scientist Heidi Zimmer (right) and horticulturist Chris Crottey take a break during Blue Mountains Botanic Garden At least two hours “operation plantout”. Photograph : Greg Bourke natural area staff have begun will be needed to systematically surveying the area fully enjoy the walk and the country successful hazard reduction so that we have a good idea of what is quite steep in places.