The Ecological Biodiversity of The Wybong sustained by the Wonnarua People

Around Dry Creek
© John Shewan

Around Dry Creek
© John Shewan

Around Dry Creek
By John Shewan

Around Dry Creek
© John Shewan

On Anvil Hill
© Anvil Hill Project Watch Association Inc

On Anvil Hill
© Anvil Hill Project Watch Association Inc

On Anvil Hill
© Anvil Project Watch Association Inc

On Anvil Hill
© Anvil Hill Project Watch Association Inc

On Anvil Hill
© Anvil Hill Project Watch Association Inc

On Anvil Hill
© Anvil Hill Project Watch Association Inc

On Anvil Hill
© Anvil Hill Project Watch Association Inc

On Anvil Hill
© Anvil Hill Project Watch Association Inc

On Anvil Hill
© Anvil Hill Project Watch Association Inc

On Anvil Hill
© Anvil Hill Project Watch Association Inc

On Anvil Hill
© Anvil Hill Project Watch Association Inc

The Wybong is a publicly accessible area of ecological and biological diversity without equal in the Muswellbrook Shire region of the Upper Hunter Valley.

Vertebrate Fauna & Flora of Manobalai Nature Reserve

Critically Endangered Species (EPBC Act - Cwlth) Prasophyllum sp. Wybong (C.Phelps ORG 5269) - a leek-orchid [81964]       Listed 13 Nov 2009

It is geologically striking with rocky sandstone and lime capped outcrops, gorges, remnant - pre European - vegetation covered ridges and cavernous escarpments. Place names of descriptive and aboriginal origin describe the nature of the region: Manobalai, Myambat, Mirrabooka, Baerami, Kerrabee, Giants Creek, Sandy Hollow, 'Devils Corner', Castle Rock, Wybong, Black Springs, Anvil Hill, 'The Book', Wallaby Rocks and so on.

The Wybong is an area that was saved from the onslaught of intensive white settlement in the early 1800's by its inhospitable nature (to white people) of high summer temperatures, rugged terrain, sandy conglomerate soils, limited surface water and limited cropping and livestock capacity.

The Wybong was and is nontheless rich in its abundance of native plants and wildlife, in sheltering caverns and small ridgebound valleys of native grasses, spring fed watercourses and billabongs.

While white people did not cut down every tree in Wybong as elsewhere in Eastern Australia, they did however slaughter and diminish the resident and transient aboriginal populations into literal genocide. Litte of aboriginal life in the Wybong is recorded.

Few aboriginal people lay claim to the aboriginal heritage of The Wybong, an exception being survivors of the "Wanaruah" and "Gamilaroy" kinship groups, the Wanaruah people being accepted as the Custodians of the Land now forming the Muswellbrook Shire.

The closest comparison to The Wybong is its common reference as "The Warrumbungles of the Upper Hunter". But of even greater degree in The Wybong than the Warrumbungles is the overall biodiversity of flora and fauna, almost the entirety of which has been lost from the denuded and inhabited surrounds of Singleton and Muswellbrook. 

Beyond the timbered borders of The Wybong little that is native or pre-European, survives.  

The Varied and Abundant Species of The Wybong

The Wybong abounds in 'Natures Gifts, of Beauty Rich and Rare'. The list below provides an indication of some of the extraordinary biodiversity of The Wybong, it is not exhaustive. It includes species listed in public databases and those determined to exist and/or have existed at Anvil Hill in addition to those recorded by landholders in the mid Wybong area.

Environmental Programs

  • NSW Dept of Environment and Climate Change Conservation programs
    Link to the NSW Dept of Environment and Climate Change Conservation programs. This pages leads to the DECC website where information on the range of DECC 'Conservation Partner' programs are available in detail.
  • Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority
    Website of the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority providing details of programs, grants and funding for agricultural and conservation purposes.
  • Aust Gov Dept Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development & Local Government Grantslink
    Focal point for listing of all Australian Government Grants - individuals, incorporated companies and community groups are invited to apply...
  • NSW Dept of Environment & Climate Change Residential Rebates
    Listing of rebates available from NSW Dept of Environment & Climate Change for water saving appliances and devices.

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    Xstrata and Minings Record of Environmental Survey

    Recognition of Biodiversity is against the Coal Mining Unwritten Operating Code of (Unconscionable) Conduct as recognition of biodiversity at a site precludes the cheap, open slather, open cut, clear felling mode of coal extraction which mining corporations and their shareholders so enjoy.

    Biodiversity is something that coal extraction company's will pretend does not exist in the absence of pre-existing proof of biodiversity such as government or community records.

    Mining Companies conduct their Environmental Surveys from Satellite pictures with limited ground survey if at all.

    They contract the work practices and consciences of the environmental surveyors purchased specifically to deny the truth - just as they have done with Anvil Hill and the denial of the existence of the White Box, Yellow Box, Blaklys Red Gum and derived native Grasslands Critically Endangered Ecological Community at Anvil Hill - despite the facts elicited in their own "Oral History of The Wybong" wherein early residents speaking of the near century from the mid 1800's to mid 1900's clearly identify White and Yellow Box as dominant species of the Anvil Hill and Wybong district together with Red Gum.  They also idntify the elsewhere protected Spotted Gum - Narrow leafed Ironbark Forests of the sandstone flats and Ridgelands to the North, East and West of Anvil Hill.

    These two dramatically different ecosystems exist side by side, in graduations and transition from White Box-Yellow Box- Blaklys Red Gum and Derived native Grasslands in the East facing South around Anvil Hill to the drier Spotted Gum-Narrow leafed Ironbark Forest Complex of the more westerly exposed sandstone soiled North around Brogheda & Manobalai.

    Whole, distinct, interdependent ecosystems and unique combinations of flora and fauna and habitat exist in the Wybong. 

    Unique ecosystems and biodiversity that Xstrata Mining Company seek to destroy for eternity, for GREED.

    The Ecological Biodiversity of The Wybong sustained by the Wonnarua People

    Description of The Wybong. Lists the species