Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Volume 5 Number 2 February, 1964 Article 10

1-1-1964

Yanchep national park

Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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Recommended Citation Jenkins, Clee Francis Howard (1964) "Yanchep national park," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 5 : No. 2 , Article 10. Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol5/iss2/10

This article is brought to you for free and open access by Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected]. YANCHEP NATIONAL PARK

By C. F. H. JENKINS,* M.A., Government Entomologist

YANCHEP National Park lies just over 30 miles north of Perth, and was gazetted as an A Class Reserve in 1905. It covers more than 6,000 acres.

An adjacent area of 40 acres has also AMENITIES been reserved at Yanchep Beach, and Accommodation in the reserve is avail­ recently 7,000 acres of forest, scrub and able at Yanchep Inn (licensed premises), swamplands between Wanneroo and Gloucester Lodge (with swimming pool) Yanchep have been set aside as flora and and McNess Guest House. A good bitumen fauna reserves and constitute important road from the park to the Yanchep Beach out-liers of the main park. reserve four miles westward gives patrons easy access to ocean swimming and fish­ ing, while boating on Loch McNess, a nine HISTORICAL hole golf course, tennis courts and expan­ The Yanchep caves were first discovered sive ovals and lawns provide abundant by Lt. (later Sir) George Grey in 1838 and sporting facilities within the park itself. a bronze plaque commemmorating this event was erected near Crystal Cave in Although the recreational facilities in 1949. the park are a major attraction the area is strictly maintained as an important The name Yanchep is derived from the flora and fauna reserve and provides some native name Yanjet applied to a bull rush of the most interesting cave scenery to be (Typha angustifolia) which grows pro- found in the State. lifically in many South-West swamps and is abundant in Loch McNess. The first settler in the area seems to Loch McNess have been Mr. H. White who took up An important feature in the reserve is grazing land in 1901 and erected a house Loch McNess which runs almost due north on the site which is now occupied by the and south for about three miles. It is one McNess Hostel. of a chain of fresh water lakes and swamps The area was gazetted as a reserve for running roughly parallel to the coast and the protection of caves and flora and fauna extending both north and south of Perth. and for health and pleasure resort in 1905, Many of these areas are being encroached but little development occurred for another upon by agricultural development and 20 years. During the depression period of some near the city are being filled, dredged the 1930's sustenance workers were em­ or otherwise "improved." In consequence ployed on road construction, the dredg­ wild life and particularly birds are being ing of Lake Yanchep and the erection driven from their former haunts and the of residential facilities (McNess Hostel, Yanchep lakes and swamps will assume Yanchep Inn, and Gloucester Lodge). Much greater importance as sanctuaries as time of the progress made during this time passes. was due to the enterprise of Mr. L. E. Shappcott (Secretary to the Premier's The southern end provides an expanse Department and Chairman of the State of open water suitable for boating and is Gardens Board) and generous donations attractive to various types of water fowl, from philanthropist Sir Charles McNess, including black swans, grey teal, black in whose honour Yanchep Lake was duck, white-eyed duck and the unique renamed. blue-billed duck.

* Deputy President, National Parks Board of W.A. 113

Journal of Agriculture Vol 5 No 2 1964 Black duck and brood

Northwards the lake becomes gradually Honey-eaters of various types are plenti­ shallower and choked with reeds and bull ful, the largest and noisiest being the "red rushes. These provide admirable nesting wattler." This bird has developed the sites for such species as reed warblers, unusual habit of stealing sugar from the grassbirds, coots and moor hens. In late outdoor tea tables. When flowering shrubs summer as the water subsides further, the are scarce the birds are quite fearless so shoals and mud flats provide feeding that sugar basins must be removed as soon grounds for various migrants and waders, as the guests depart. In common with the including the avocets with their long smaller honeyeaters the wattle bird tends turned up bills, their long-legged relatives the flowers of the various kangaroo paws the white-headed stilts and the smaller and assists in cross pollination. stints and dotterels, known to many as Magpies, kookaburras and butcher birds "snipe." are well established in the park and all compete with the ravens in scavenging for scraps of food. Unfortunately however NATIVE ANIMALS the kookaburras and butcher birds are Excluding the water birds already men­ partial to fledglings, captive canaries and tioned under the heading "Loch McNess" budgerigars, and so terrorise many of the the most conspicuous birds at Yanchep smaller birds both wild and captive. are probably the ravens (usually known as crows) which come boldly to the picnic Native Mammals areas in search of food, and the white- Grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) tailed black cockatoos, which fly overhead are quite common at Yanchep and may be in screeching mobs, or sit complaining to seen feeding on the ovals and golf links one another in the tops of the larger trees. in the early morning or late evening.

Journal of Agriculture Vol 5 No 2 1964 The Elephants Foot, Crystal Cave, Yanchep Park

TCr

"Laura", one of Yanchep':

115

Journal of Agriculture Vol 5 No 2 1964 Blue Leschenaultia—one of the many attractive wildflower species found at Yanchep

116

Journal of Agriculture Vol 5 No 2 1964 Grey butcher bird on its nest

Possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) are also particularly with lime stone and charac­ present, but seldom seen because of their terised by rough light coloured bark), nocturnal habits. marri or red gum (E. calophylla)—(large Cave remains indicate that other seed capsules, dark flaky bark and red gum mammals such as the chuditch or native stains) and jarrah (E. marginata)—(small cat (Dasyurus. geoffroii), the tammar seed capsules and striated grey bark). (Thylogale eugenii) and the brush wallaby There are extensive areas of Banksia and {Protemnodon irma.) once ranged the area scattered stands of sheoak (Casuarina), and it is probable that some of these still black boys or grass trees (Xanthorrhoea) remain in the less frequented parts of the and zamia palms (Macrozamia reidlii). park. Some of the sandy plains are covered with white flowered parrot bush (Dryandra) and much of the forest carries a floor covering Miscellaneous Fauna of yellow flowered Hibertia and prickly No detailed survey of the lower animals wattle (Acacia). Profuse trails of purple had been attempted. The reptiles present sarsparilla (Hardenbergia) and white cle­ include the brown snake or dugite matis twine amongst the yellow wattles (Demansia nuchalis), the bob-tailed lizard and provide a colourful display each spring. (Trachysaurus rugosus), the ground The purple Hovea heliotrope and white goanna (Varanus gouldii), and the dark Hibiscus and the red trailing Kennedya race-horse goanna (V. tristis), as well as are additional species which never fail to various small lizards. The long-necked arouse the admiration of the visitor. tortoise (Chelodina oblonga) is also present in the swamps. The large red and green kangaroo paw (Anigosanthos manglesii)—the official Trout and marron (Cheraps tenuimanus) were released in Loch McNess several floral emblem of the State—grows in pro­ years ago, but it is doubtful whether any fusion throughout the park in company trout remain. The small gilgie (C. quin- with the smaller catspaw (A. humilis). quecarinatus) is common. The red pea-shaped flowers of the Templetonia are a spring attraction on TIMBER AND WILD FLOWERS coastal dunes and limestone ridges and The main trees of the area are tuarts provide nectar for various flower-haunting (Eucalyptus gomphocephala) (associated birds. 117

Journal of Agriculture Vol 5 No 2 1964 Wild Flower Gardens bones of the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus Extensive wild flower plots comprising harrisii) and the ghost bat (Macroderma several hundred species are being culti­ gigas) which now haunts the caves of the vated in the park both as an attraction north and the dry interior. The Tasmanian for visitors and to conserve some of the devil is now extinct on the Australian rare species which are threatened by the mainland but, like the koala (Phasco- spread of agriculture. The finest floral larctos cinereus) and the Tasmanian wolf displays are of course to be seen in the (Thylacinus cyanocephalus) was once a spring but some species bloom at almost resident in our South-West. any month of the year and so the wild flower beds are a constant source of DISPLAY OF NATIVE ANIMALS interest. Kangaroos Although common in the park, grey CAVES kangaroos are seldom seen by daytime The coastal limestone which outcrops at visitors, and for this reason several Yanchep beach and is exposed in several animals are displayed in an almost natural areas within the park—particularly in setting near the wild flower beds. Boomerang Gorge—has permitted the formation of an extensive cave system Koalas within the reserve. The koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are Crystal Cave shows fine examples of an outstanding attraction at Yanchep and active stalactites (hang from ceiling) and some individuals have lived in the park stalagmites (rise from floor) and provides for 20 years. Breeding stock was obtained beautiful reflections in the main grotto f^rom both Queensland and Victoria and where an underground stream occupies many thousands of special eucalyptus trees most of the floor. have been planted to provide the "bears" with suitable food. Yonderup Cave provides an interesting contrast to the Crystal Cave for water Emus action has ceased and the limestone forma­ Although still plentiful in the pastoral tions lack the transluscent lustre of the areas of the State and a declared pest in "live" stone. the outer wheat belt, the emu is seldom The Cabaret or Silver Stocking Cave is seen at large by the visiting tourist or city a very expansive grotto which formerly dweller. Wild emus still range the park, provided a unique setting for dances, but most visitors must be content with a music recitals and other social functions. view of the captive birds which thrive in Until further developmental work can be their bush surroundings. completed however, it is now used for exhibition purposes only. Many other Flight Cage caves occur in the area and two—Mam- A colourful display of local and Eastern bibby and Cauliflower—were once open to States parrots is housed in a large aviary the public, but it has been necessary to which ensures the birds ample flight space close them because of cracks and sub­ and breeding facilities. Easy identification sidences. of the birds is ensured by the use of coloured illustrations. Cave Fauna A parrot of particular interest is the Pale coloured (but not blind) gilgies live western king parrot or red-capped parrot in the underground waters of the caves of the South-West. The long thin bill and the bones of aborigines and native of this parrot is especially adapted for mammals have been found in several extracting the seeds from the large woody grottos. In addition to the remains of such capsules of the marri or red gum and animals as the grey kangaroo, the brush, although it eats other vegetable food, the tammar, the dalgite (Macrotis lagotis), including fruit, its association with the the boodie (Bettongia lesueuri) and the marri probably explains the bird's re­ chuditch, or native cat, the caves contained stricted range. 118

Journal of Agriculture Vol 5 No 2 1964 THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING not on the whims of some interested NATIONAL PARKS AND NATURE pressure group or rate-hungry local authority. RESERVES Although extensive parks and reserves It is fashionable at the present time to can make a major contribution towards talk about the tourist potential of Western the protection of animals and wildflowers, Australia, and to emphasise the various they must be carefully supervised and scenic attractions and our unique flora rigorously protected from all forms of and fauna. encroachment, including depredations of It is worth remembering, however, that grazing stock. over the past 20 years some 12 million Unfortunately, with the reserves at acres of land have been developed for present available, adequate supervision is agriculture in this State, and that the rate not always possible and some areas suffer of development shows no sign of slacken­ in consequence, both from accidental bush ing. This may augur well for our economic fires and from various forms of vandalism. future, but it could spell disaster for our There is however, a strong and growing wild life and make a mockery of our claim interest in nature conservation as exempli­ to many scenic features and tourist fied by the activities of such bodies as the attractions. Naturalist Club, the Tree Society, the There is nothing attractive or scenic Royal Society, the National Trust and the about treeless rivers, shadeless roads and Gould League of Birdlovers. These and cleared paddocks. Obviously the march of other bodies are moulding the public mind progress can't be stopped, but its impact to appreciate our natural assets and to can be cushioned by appropriate action. admire but not pick our choice wildflowers. The destruction of trees along water­ We have helpful legislation and some courses and roadsides should be reduced very fine parks and sanctuaries. Many to a minimum and suitable tracts of land more are needed however, together with should be preserved as nature reserves in a sympathetic and enlightened public to various parts of the State. To serve any ensure that future tourists will actually useful purpose, these areas must be really see the things of which we now boast, and extensive and ther establishment must be will not be forced to read about them In based on a co-ordinated long-term policy, a history book.

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Journal of Agriculture Vol 5 No 2 1964