Mountains of Science Volume 1: a thematic interpretation strategy for the scientific sites of cultural heritage in the australian alps Report to the Australian Alps Liaison Committee P Macdonald and J Haiblen December 2001 TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables and Plates................................................................................................iii Acknowledgements......................................................................................................... v Abbreviations.................................................................................................................. v 1 A LIFE HISTORY OF SCIENCE IN THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS........................... 1 1.1 The Cultural Standing of Alps Science................................................................... 1 1.2 Three Stages of Alps Science ................................................................................. 2 1.2.1 The Early Science ........................................................................................... 2 2 SCOPE OF THIS REPORT........................................................................................ 4 2.1 What Do We Mean by Science? ............................................................................. 5 2.2 What Do We Mean By A Site?............................................................................... 6 2.3 How Did We Find Out About Sites? ...................................................................... 7 2.4 What Do We Mean By Cultural Heritage? ............................................................. 7 2.4.1 Assessment Criteria ........................................................................................ 8 2.5 Why the Australian Alps?..................................................................................... 11 2.6 Interpreting the Sites – How, What, When, Where, Why, and to Whom? ........... 11 3 THE THEMES.......................................................................................................... 25 3.1 Australian Historic Themes .................................................................................. 25 3.2 Themes For Interpreting Australian Alps Science................................................ 25 3.2.1 Grazing.......................................................................................................... 27 3.2.1.1 Overview................................................................................................. 27 3.2.1.2 Interpreting Grazing................................................................................ 32 3.2.2 Fire ................................................................................................................ 38 3.2.2.1 Overview................................................................................................. 38 3.2.2.2 Interpreting Fire ...................................................................................... 43 3.2.3 Rehabilitation................................................................................................ 49 3.2.3.1 Overview................................................................................................. 49 3.2.3.2 Interpreting Rehabilitation...................................................................... 53 3.2.4 Geology and Geomorphology....................................................................... 56 3.2.4.1 Overview of Geomorphology ................................................................. 56 3.2.4.2 Interpreting Geomorphology .................................................................. 67 3.2.5 Hydrology ..................................................................................................... 71 3.2.5.1 Overview................................................................................................. 71 3.2.5.2 Interpreting Hydrology ........................................................................... 74 3.2.6 Meteorology and Climate Change ................................................................ 78 3.2.6.1 Overview................................................................................................. 78 3.2.6.2 Interpreting Meteorology and Climate Change ...................................... 80 3.2.7 Paleoecology................................................................................................. 84 3.2.8 Native Fauna ................................................................................................. 85 3.2.8.1 Overview................................................................................................. 85 3.2.8.2 Interpreting Native Fauna ....................................................................... 90 3.2.9 Native Flora .................................................................................................. 94 3.2.9.1 Overview of Treelines............................................................................. 94 3.2.9.2 Interpreting Treelines.............................................................................. 97 3.2.10 Arboreta ...................................................................................................... 101 3.2.11 Exotic Species............................................................................................. 102 4 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................ 103 5 REFERENCES ....................................................................................................... 105 6 APPENDICES ........................................................................................................ 119 6.1 Appendix 1 – Project Brief ................................................................................. 120 6.2 Appendix 2 – Australian Heritage Commission Historic Themes...................... 124 6.3 Appendix 3 – Areas Removed From Grazing in Victoria .................................. 126 6.4 Appendix 4 – Notes from a telephone conversation with Neville Rosengren.... 127 6.5 Appendix 5 – Existing Interpretive Brochures Relating to Alps Science -inside back cover List of Tables and Plates Tables Table 1 - Key Sites For Interpretation: Grazing ............................................................... 34 Table 2 - Key Sites For Interpretation: Fire...................................................................... 45 Table 3 - Key Sites For Interpretation: Rehabilitation...................................................... 54 Table 4 - Key Sites For Interpretation: Geomorphology.................................................. 69 Table 5 - Key Sites For Interpretation: Hydrology........................................................... 76 Table 6 - Key Sites For Interpretation: Meteorology and Climate Change...................... 81 Table 7 - Key Sites For Interpretation: Native Fauna....................................................... 92 Table 8 - Key Sites For Interpretation: Treelines ............................................................. 99 iii Plates Plate 1 - Pretty Valley Dam looking across to construction scars ................................... 15 Plate 2 - Rocky Valley Alpine Rehabilitation Project ..................................................... 15 Plate 3 - Rocky Valley Rehabilitation Project ................................................................. 15 Plate 4 - Bogong High Plains rehabilitation - Warwick Papst ......................................... 16 Plate 5 - Rocky Valley Snowcourse - note line of poles ................................................. 16 Plate 6 - Pretty Valley Plots ............................................................................................. 16 Plate 7 - Rocky Valley Plots ............................................................................................ 17 Plate 8 - Jennings Walks trailhead - Blue Waterholes ..................................................... 17 Plate 9 - Jennings Walk climbing to dolines on Cooleman Plain .................................... 17 Plate 10 - Bryant's Long Plain sites: grassland pegs in foreground, snowgums from grazing exclosure in background ......................................................................... 18 Plate 11 - Jounama Pines Rehabilitation Area ................................................................. 18 Plate 12 - Yarrangobilly R Catchment (left) and Wallaces Ck Catchment (right) from Ravine ......................................................................................................... 18 Plate 13 - Rainbow Lake Walk with posts from 1939 Hotel Kosciusko Water Reserve ................................................................................................................. 19 Plate 14 - Terminus of Rainbow Lake Walk looking across to Wimbush and Costin grazing sites .......................................................................................................... 19 Plate 15 - Looking across from Soil Con Hut site to contour banks on Carruthers Spur .................................................................................................... 19 Plate 16 - Spencers Ck Picnic Area with David Moraine at rear left and Guthrie Ridge at right rear ................................................................................... 20 Plate 17 - Bulls Head Picnic Area ................................................................................... 20 Plate 18 - Wild Dog Plain Fire Plots ..............................................................................