Protected areas of Victoria

Victoria is the smallest mainland state in Australia. As of 2022 it contained 5,081 separate protected areas with a total land area of 4,012,888 ha (9,916,060 acres) (17.64% of the state's area).[1]

The parks are managed by Parks Victoria, a state government agency. There are also many smaller state areas which are subject to commercial activity such as logging.

Protected areas of Victoria is located in Victoria
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National parks of Victoria State parks of Victoria Marine national parks of Victoria Marine and coastal parks of Victoria Marine sanctuaries of Victoria Other parks of Victoria

Main parks

National parks

National parks provide the highest level of protection to diverse natural areas. They usually contain the best and most unique examples of our natural values and biodiversity. There are 45 national parks in Victoria,[2] totalling 2,910,738 ha (7,192,590 acres) (72.53% of the state's protected areas).[1]

National parks of Victoria
Order National park name Area[1] Declared
as a national park[1]
Notes
ha acre
1 Alfred 3,022 7,470 23 December 1925[3]
2 Alpine 662,354 1,636,710 2 December 1989[3] Includes the former Tingaringy NP, Wabonga Plateau SP, Bogong NP, Wonnangatta–Moroka NP, Cobberas–Tingaringy NP
3 Barmah 28,490 70,400 27 June 2010 Proclaimed in 1987 (as Barmah State Park)
4 Baw Baw 12,784 31,590 26 April 1979
5 Brisbane Ranges 8,881 21,950 1 December 1975
6 Budj Bim 8,571 21,180 7 June 1960 Formerly known as Mount Eccles National Park. UNESCO World Heritage listing from 2019
7 Burrowa - Pine Mountain 18,965 46,860 16 May 1978
8 Chiltern-Mt Pilot 21,665 53,540 30 October 2002[3] Proclaimed in 1980 (as Chiltern State Park);
and in 1997 (as Chiltern Box–Ironbark National Park)
9 Churchill 272 670 12 February 1941 Formerly known as Dandenong National Park (1941-1944)
10 Cobboboonee 18,553 45,850 11 November 2008
11 Coopracambra 38,513 95,170 1988[3] Proclaimed in 1979 (as Coopracambra State Park)
12 Croajingolong 88,516 218,730 26 April 1979[3] Includes the former Wingan Inlet NP, Mallacoota Inlet NP, Captain James Cook NP
13 Dandenong Ranges 3,534 8,730 13 December 1987[3] Proclaimed in 1928 (as Ferntree Gully National Park)
14 Errinundra 43,144 106,610 21 June 1988
15 French Island 10,318 25,500 21 June 1988 Proclaimed in 1984 (as French Island State Park)
16 Grampians 168,277 415,820 18 December 1984
17 Great Otway 110,412 272,830 11 December 2005 Includes the former Melba Gully SP, Otway NP, Angahook–Lorne SP, Carlisle SP
18 Greater Bendigo 17,575 43,430 30 October 2002[3] Includes the former Whipstick SP, Kamarooka SP
19 Gunbower 9,317 23,020 27 June 2010
20 Hattah - Kulkyne 49,983 123,510 26 April 1980[3] Proclaimed in 1960 (as Hattah Lakes National Park)
21 Heathcote-Graytown 12,693 31,370 30 October 2002
22 Kara Kara 13,982 34,550 30 October 2002[3] Proclaimed in 1984 (as Kara Kara State Park);
Formerly known as St Arnaud Range National Park (2002-2012)
23 Kinglake 23,126 57,150 7 March 1928
24 Lake Eildon 27,822 68,750 4 June 1997[3] Includes the former Fraser NP, Eildon SP
25 Lind 1,370 3,400 1926[3][4]
26 Little Desert 131,607 325,210 10 December 1968
27 Lower Glenelg 26,451 65,360 16 December 1969
28 Lower Goulburn 9,321 23,030 27 June 2010
29 Mitchell River 14,402 35,590 17 June 1986[3] Proclaimed in 1963 (as Glenaladale National Park)
30 Mornington Peninsula 2,682 6,630 1988[3] Includes the former Cape Schanck Coastal Park, and part of Nepean SP;
Formerly known as Point Nepean National Park (1988-1995)
31 Morwell 565 1,400 29 November 1966
32 Mount Buffalo 27,484 67,910 1898[3]
33 Mount Richmond 1,738 4,290 7 June 1960
34 Murray - Sunset 665,694 1,644,970 5 June 1991[3] Proclaimed in 1979 (as Pink Lakes State Park)
35 Organ Pipes 153 380 14 December 1971
36 Point Nepean 540 1,300 17 August 2005
37 Port Campbell 2,429 6,000 9 December 1964
38 Snowy River 114,729 283,500 26 April 1979
39 Tarra-Bulga 2,028 5,010 17 June 1986[3] Includes the former Tarra Valley NP, Bulga NP
40 Terrick Terrick 6,388 15,790 15 April 1999[3] Proclaimed in 1988 (as Terrick Terrick State Park)
41 The Lakes 2,407 5,950 30 October 1956
42 Warby-Ovens 14,708 36,340 27 June 2010 Proclaimed in 1975 (as Warby Range State Park)
43 Wilsons Promontory 48,202 119,110 8 July 1898[3]
44 Wyperfeld 359,855 889,220 20 October 1909
45 Yarra Ranges 77,229 190,840 15 December 1995

State parks

State parks help protect the state's natural values. They are very similar to national parks, however, the conservation values and landscapes they protect are smaller or less diverse. There are 26 state parks in Victoria,[2] totalling 158,043 ha (390,530 acres) (3.94% of the state's protected areas).[1]

State parks of Victoria
Order State park name Area[1] Declared
as a state park[1]
Notes
ha acre
1 Arthurs Seat 566 1,400 16 May 1978 Includes part of the former Nepean State Park
2 Black Range 11,731 28,990 21 June 1988
3 Broken-Boosey 1,010 2,500 30 October 2002
4 Bunyip 16,647 41,140 23 September 1992
5 Cape Nelson 229 570 26 April 1979
6 Cathedral Range 3,599 8,890 26 April 1979
7 Dergholm 10,886 26,900 23 September 1992
8 Enfield 4,323 10,680 3 August 1995
9 Holey Plains 10,746 26,550 16 May 1978
10 Kooyoora 11,455 28,310 18 December 1984
11 Lake Tyers 8,684 21,460 19 June 1984
12 Langi Ghiran 3,043 7,520 8 December 1984
13 Leaghur 2,045 5,050 23 September 1992
14 Lerderderg 20,545 50,770 21 June 1988
15 Moondarra 6,362 15,720 18 December 1984
16 Mount Arapiles-Tooan 7,457 18,430 17 December 1987
17 Mount Buangor 2,499 6,180 27 October 1989
18 Mount Granya 6,164 15,230 3 August 1995
19 Mount Lawson 13,366 33,030 21 June 1988
20 Mount Napier 2,939 7,260 24 June 1987
21 Mount Samaria 7,445 18,400 26 April 1979
22 Mount Worth 1,032 2,550 16 May 1978
23 Paddys Ranges 2,015 4,980 27 October 1989
24 Reef Hills 2,005 4,950 2 May 1986
25 Warrandyte 687 1,700 1 December 1975
26 Werribee Gorge 563 1,390 16 May 1978

Regional parks

Regional parks are found close to urban centres or major tourist routes. While still places of natural beauty, visitor recreation is the primary purpose of regional parks.

  • Ararat Regional Park
  • Baranduda Regional Park
  • Bendigo Regional Park
  • Cobram Regional Park
  • Colquhoun Regional Park
  • Crawford River Regional Park
  • Creswick Regional Park
  • Crossover Regional Park
  • Echuca Regional Park
  • Glenmaggie Regional Park
  • Hepburn Regional Park
  • Jarvis Creek Plateau Regional Park
  • Kerang Regional Park
  • Kororoit Creek Regional Park (being developed)
  • Kurth Kiln Regional Park
  • Macedon Regional Park
  • Maryborough Regional Park
  • Mirboo North Regional Park
  • Mount Alexander Regional Park
  • Mount Mitta Mitta Regional Park
  • Mount Raymond Regional Park
  • Shepparton Regional Park
  • St Arnaud Regional Park
  • Tocumwal Regional Park
  • Wandong Regional Park
  • Werribee Regional Park
  • Woowookarung Regional Park
  • Yarrawonga Regional Park
  • You Yangs Regional Park

Metropolitan parks

Metropolitan parks are very similar to regional parks, however, are located in metropolitan Melbourne.

Indigenous Protected Areas

Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) are "areas of land and sea managed by Indigenous groups as protected areas for biodiversity conservation through voluntary agreements with the Australian Government".[5]

There are 5 indigenous protected areas in Victoria, totalling 3,888 ha (9,610 acres) (0.1% of the state's protected areas).[1] The following IPAs have been declared in Victoria:[6][7][8]

Historic and heritage

Parks Victoria is responsible for the largest and most diverse collection of heritage places on public land in Victoria. They manage more than 3,000 historic assets including cultural landscapes, buildings, infrastructure, significant trees, objects and artefacts, archaeological sites, and shipwrecks.

Historic and heritage parks

Historic or heritage parks are significant historic cultural landscapes of heritage value. There are 6 historic and heritage parks in Victoria[9]

Historic and heritage areas

There are 75 historic and heritage areas in Victoria[9] including:

Heritage River

There are 18 heritage rivers in Victoria, totalling 158,783 ha (392,360 acres) (3.96% of the state's protected areas).[1] These are defined under the Heritage Rivers Act 1992 as parts of rivers and river catchment areas that have significant nature conservation, recreation, scenic or cultural heritage values

Marine protected areas

Victoria is the first jurisdiction in the world to create an entire system of highly protected marine national parks at the same time.[12] As of 2020 Victoria contained 30 separate marine protected areas with a total area of 121,242 ha (299,600 acres) (11.87% of the state's coastal waters).[1] Marine national parks and sanctuaries contain important marine habitats and species, or encompass areas of significant natural features; and are highly protected areas in which no fishing, extractive or damaging activities are permitted.

Marine national parks

There are 13 marine national parks in Victoria,[2] totalling 52,191 ha (128,970 acres) (43.05% of the state's protected waters)[1].

Marine national parks of Victoria
Marine national parks of Victoria
Order Marine national park name Area[1] Declared
as a marine national park[1]
ha acre
1 Bunurong 2,048 5,060 16 November 2002
2 Cape Howe 4,078 10,080 16 November 2002
3 Churchill Island 670 1,700 16 November 2002
4 Corner Inlet 1,414 3,490 16 November 2002
5 Discovery Bay 2,790 6,900 16 November 2002
6 French Island 2,980 7,400 16 November 2002
7 Ninety Mile Beach 2,652 6,550 16 November 2002
8 Point Addis 4,419 10,920 16 November 2002
9 Point Hicks 3,803 9,400 16 November 2002
10 Port Phillip Heads 3,473 8,580 16 November 2002
11 Twelve Apostles 7,502 18,540 16 November 2002
12 Wilsons Promontory 15,586 38,510 16 November 2002
13 Yaringa 776 1,920 16 November 2002

Marine sanctuaries

There are 11 marine sanctuaries in Victoria,[2] totalling 864 ha (2,130 acres) (0.71% of the state's protected waters)[1].

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Marine sanctuaries of Victoria
Marine sanctuaries of Victoria
Order Marine sanctuaries name Area[1] Declared
as a marine sanctuaries[1]
ha acre
1 Barwon Bluff 16 40 16 November 2002
2 Beware Reef 220 540 16 November 2002
3 Eagle Rock 18 44 16 November 2002
4 Jawbone 30 74 16 November 2002
5 Marengo Reefs 13 32 16 November 2002
6 Merri 29 72 16 November 2002
7 Mushroom Reef 57 140 16 November 2002
8 Point Cooke 292 720 16 November 2002
9 Point Danger 22 54 16 November 2002
10 Ricketts Point 121 300 16 November 2002
11 The Arches 48 120 16 November 2002

Coastal and marine parks

Coastal Parks and Marine Parks protect areas of coastal, intertidal or subtidal land. There are 6 marine (or marine & coastal) parks in Victoria, totalling 68,187 ha (168,490 acres) (56.24% of the state's protected waters).[1] There are also 5 coastal parks in Victoria, totalling 45,284 ha (111,900 acres) (1.13% of the state's protected land areas).[1]

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Marine and coastal parks of Victoria
Marine parks of Victoria
Order Marine park name Area[1] Declared
as a marine park[1]
Notes
ha acre
1 Bay of Islands 935 2,310 4 June 1997 Coastal park
2 Bunurong 1,260 3,100 17 December 1991 Marine & coastal park
3 Cape Conran 11,576 28,600 4 June 1997 Coastal park
4 Cape Liptrap 4,327 10,690 4 June 1997 Coastal park
5 Corner Inlet 28,567 70,590 18 April 1986 Marine & coastal park
6 Discovery Bay 10,643 26,300 26 April 1979 Coastal park
7 Gippsland Lakes 17,803 43,990 26 April 1979 Coastal park
8 Nooramunga 30,200 75,000 18 April 1986 Marine & coastal park
9 Shallow Inlet 1,972 4,870 18 April 1986 Marine & coastal park
10 Wilsons Promontory 6,187 15,290 18 April 1986 Marine park & marine reserve

Reference areas

Reference areas are tracts of public land containing viable samples of one or more land types that are relatively undisturbed. There are 144 reference areas in Victoria, totalling 112,628 ha (278,310 acres) (2.81% of the state's protected areas) and all but 23,032 ha (56,910 acres) are located inside other protected areas[1] including:

  • Anser Island
  • Baw Baw
  • Benedore River
  • Cobboboonee
  • Cobboboonee
  • Disappointment
  • French Island (East)
  • French Island (North)
  • Kooyoora
  • Little Desert (East)
  • Little Desert (West)
  • Merragunegin
  • Mitta Mitta
  • Mount Buffalo
  • Pine Mountain
  • Raak Plain
  • Reef Hills
  • Stringybark Creek
  • Sunset
  • Tambo River
  • Terrick Terrick
  • Tooan
  • Warby Range
  • Wonnangatta River
  • Yan Yean North
  • Yan Yean South

Other nature areas

Wilderness and Nature parks

Wilderness parks are large areas with native plant and animal communities that are relatively unaffected by humans. They are managed for conservation, with no facilities provided for visitors and no vehicles are permitted. There are 3 wilderness parks in Victoria,[2] totalling 200,699 ha (495,940 acres) (5% of the state's protected areas).[1]

There is 1 nature park in Victoria, totalling 1,925 ha (4,760 acres) (0.05% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Other parks of Victoria
Wilderness & Nature parks of Victoria
Order Park name Area[1] Declared
as a wilderness park[1]
Notes
ha acre
1 Avon 39,566 97,770 27 November 1987 Wilderness park
2 Big Desert 141,713 350,180 26 April 1979 Wilderness park
3 Phillip Island 1,925 4,760 27 June 1997 Nature park
4 Wabba 19,395 47,930 30 June 1992 Wilderness park

Wilderness zones

There are 19 wilderness zones in Victoria, totalling 641,441 ha (1,585,040 acres) (15.98% of the state's protected areas) and all but 131 ha (320 acres) are located inside other protected areas.[1]

  • Bowen
  • Buchan Headwaters
  • Cape Howe
  • Chinaman Flat
  • Cobberas
  • Galpunga
  • Genoa
  • Indi
  • Minook
  • Mount Cowra
  • Mount Darling - Snowy Bluff
  • North Wyperfeld
  • Razor-Viking
  • Sandpatch
  • Snowy River
  • South Wyperfeld
  • Sunset
  • Tingaringy
  • Wilsons Promontory

Natural catchment area

There are 25 natural catchment areas in Victoria, totalling 151,368 ha (374,040 acres) (3.77% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Remote and natural area

There are 24 remote and natural areas in Victoria, totalling 302,990 ha (748,700 acres) (7.55% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Other reserves

In Victoria, there are a total of 2776 nature reserves, totalling 467,092 ha (1,154,210 acres) (11.64% of the state's protected areas)[1] divided is the following different groups:

Bushland Reserve

There are 1592 bushland reserves in Victoria, totalling 45,305 ha (111,950 acres) (1.13% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Cave Reserve

There are 9 cave reserves in Victoria, totalling 532 ha (1,310 acres) (0.01% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Conservation park / reserve

There are 13 conservation parks / conservation reserves in Victoria, totalling 20,994 ha (51,880 acres) (0.52% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Flora & Fauna Reserve

There are a total of 186 flora and/or fauna reserves in Victoria, totalling 119,632 ha (295,620 acres) (2.98% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Geological Reserve

There are 14 geological reserves in Victoria, totalling 436 ha (1,080 acres) (0.01% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Gippsland Lakes Reserve

There are 39 gippsland lakes reserves in Victoria, totalling 7,129 ha (17,620 acres) (0.18% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Nature Conservation Reserve

There are 263 nature conservation reserves in Victoria, totalling 136,909 ha (338,310 acres) (3.41% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Natural Features and Scenic Reserve

There are 49 natural features reserves in Victoria, totalling 10,402 ha (25,700 acres) (0.26% of the state's protected areas)[1].
There are 50 scenic reserves in Victoria, totalling 9,649 ha (23,840 acres) (0.24% of the state's protected areas)[1].
There are 24 combined natural features and scenic reserves in Victoria, totalling 19,799 ha (48,920 acres) (0.49% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Streamside Reserve

There are 259 streamside reserves in Victoria, totalling 7,895 ha (19,510 acres) (0.2% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Tall Trees Reserve

There is 1 tall trees reserve in Victoria, totalling 14 ha (35 acres).[1]

Wildlife Reserve

There are 277 wildlife reserves in Victoria, totalling 88,396 ha (218,430 acres) (2.2% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Some of the nature reserves include

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap "Collaborative Australian Protected Area Database". Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water. Commonwealth of Australia. 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e "What we manage". Parks Victoria. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Parks Victoria: Creation of Parks.pdf
  4. ^ Parks Victoria, Lind and Alfred National Parks management plan (August 1998), p. 2.
  5. ^ "Indigenous Protected Areas". Australian Government. Dept of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Declared Indigenous Protected Areas in Victoria". Department of the Environment. Archived from the original on 10 April 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  7. ^ "Indigenous land and sea management projects". National Indigenous Australians Agency. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Framlingham Forest IPA". National Indigenous Australians AgencyVic Projects. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Parks Victoria". Parks Victoria. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Heritage Rivers Act 1992 — Schedule 1". AustLII: Australasian Legal Information Institute. UTS and UNSW Faculties of Law. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  11. ^ Nevill, Jon (20 June 2007). "Counting Australia's protected rivers". OnlyOnePlanet. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Victoria's System of Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries. Management Strategy 2003–2010" (PDF). Parks Victoria (PDF). Government of Victoria. 2003. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2012.

External links

  • Parks Victoria
  • Victoria National Parks
  • Travel Victoria - National & state parks
  • Travel Victoria - Metropolitan parks
  • Travel Victoria - Coastal & marine parks
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