Lorna Murray
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Lawn Hill National Park is found in the far north-west of Queensland, about 400km from Cloncurry by road, and 75km west of Gregory Downs. The main attraction of the area is the spectacular gorge cut by Lawn Hill Creek through red sandstone. This beautiful place was once part of Lawn Hill Station, and visitors to the gorge had to call at the station homestead to obtain permission to visit. There is now a resident Ranger at the National Park, a well-developed camping ground with basic facilities, and walking tracks to some places within the area. At holiday times prior booking of a camp site is essential, because of the popularity of the Park, in spite of the distance from civilisation. The best road is from Cloncurry via the Burke & Wills Roadhouse and Gregory Downs. As the latter part of the road is usually very rough, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is desirable, although a sturdy two-wheel-drive could make the journey if great care was taken. Access can also be obtained on a road north from the Mt. Isa-Camooweal road to Gregory Downs, but this route requires the crossing of a longer stretch of rough road. Lawn Hill Creek is fed from springs in limestone formations, so that there is a permanent flow of water through the gorge. Pockets of vegetation can be found even at the base of the steep cliffs, and ferns and mosses can gain a foothold in many damp spots. Near the camping ground just beyond the main gorge, species of Melaleuca and Pandanus are common, and there is a forest of Livistona rigida palms. Bird-life near the water is extensive, and honeyeaters in particular are colourful. |
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A walk to the top of the cliffs gives a very scenic view of the gorge. There is also an opportunity to examine at close hand the dry open forest vegetation common on ridges in these northern areas. Many species of acacia are present, and seven species of grevillea occur here, including good forms of G. dryandri, G. refracta, G. wickhamii and G. heliosperma. An outstanding eucalypt is E. terminalis, the western bloodwood, which may be found with pink flowers. Other notable eucalypts in the Park include E. papuana, the ghost gum, E. dichromophloia, with attractive coloured bark, E. pruinosa, with silvery leaves, and some magnificent river red gums, E. camaldulensis. Among the smaller plants, some species of Ptilotus, including P. exaltatus, appear prominently and shrubs of Calytrix exstipulata make a brilliant display when flowering. Many herbs can be seen among the grasses, even in the drier parts of the Park. |
| Grevillea wickhamii. Family Proteaceae |
Most of the plants found in this Park are the same species as those common in the central region of the Northern Territory, and there is greater affinity with the vegetation of those areas than with any of the rest of Queensland. The scenic beauty of Lawn Hill Gorge rivals that of Katherine Gorge, and a visit to the Park is very rewarding for the plant life, the scenery and the birdlife.
An extensive plant list for the region has been organised from records collected by the Ranger and his wife.
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