Strzelecki Ranges

Strzelecki Ranges
Tolone[1]
Streetscape of Yarragon, Victoria, with the Strzelecki Ranges in the background.
Highest point
Peak Mount Tassie
Elevation 740 m (2,430 ft) AHD 
Geography
Country Australia
State/Province Victoria
Range coordinates 38°19′42″S 145°55′32″E / 38.32833°S 145.92556°E / -38.32833; 145.92556Coordinates: 38°19′42″S 145°55′32″E / 38.32833°S 145.92556°E / -38.32833; 145.92556 [2]
Parent range Great Dividing Range

The Strzelecki Ranges, also known as the Strzelecki Hills, is a low mountain range that is part of the Great Dividing Range, located in the West Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria. The range is situated between the Latrobe Valley to the north and Bass Strait to the south. It is named after Paweł Edmund Strzelecki, a Polish explorer, who led an expedition through this region in the 1840s.

The ranges also form a biogeographic subregion of the South Eastern Highlands bioregion, within the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia.[3] “Land of the Lyrebird” is an alternative name for the Strzelecki Ranges.[4]

Vegetation and topography

The ranges were originally covered by a mosaic of wet forest, populated by 90-metre-tall (300-foot) Mountain Ash trees, and temperate rainforest. As a result of clearing for agriculture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and of logging activity, the native vegetation of the Strzelecki Ranges bioregion is highly depleted, with only 19% of its original extent remaining.[5] Most of the remaining forest is in the eastern ranges. Some has been protected inside the Tarra-Bulga National Park, the Morwell National Park and the Mount Worth State Park.

The highest peak is Mount Tassie, at approximately 740 metres (2,430 feet).

History

The Strzelecki Ranges fall within the territory of the Gunai or Kurnai people of Gippsland. In the Aboriginal Boonwurrung language, the range is called Tolone.[1] Stone axes, grinding stones and bush ovens provide evidence of their use of the tall dense forests of the ranges. The ranges were a source of lyrebird tail feathers, which were used for ornamentation and for trade.[6]

Land selection in the western Strzelecki Ranges began in the 1870s. The steepest parts of the eastern Strzelecki Ranges were opened for selection in the 1890s. However, farming and clearing was difficult in the high, wet, densely forested areas, and many farmers abandoned their selections.[7] Most of the remaining forest is in the eastern ranges.

Recreation

The spectacular Grand Ridge Road winds through the ranges, and provides picturesque views to the north over the Latrobe Valley and to the south towards Wilsons Promontory.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Strzelecki Ranges: Historical information: 5183". Vicnames. 12 August 1991. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  2. ↑ "Strzelecki Ranges: 26642". Vicnames. 2 May 1966. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  3. ↑ "Australia's bioregions (IBRA)". Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Commonwealth of Australia. 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Strzelecki Ranges, Land of the Lyrebird". Commonwealth of Australia. 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  5. ↑ Traill, B.; Porter, C. (2001). "Nature Conservation Review". Victoria: Victorian National Parks Association: 106.
  6. ↑ Bradshaw, John (1999). The Early Settlement of South Gippsland. Coal Creek Heritage Village. pp. 3–4.
  7. ↑ Morgan, Patrick (1997). "Collapse of the Hill Farms". The Settling of Gippsland. Gippsland Municipalities Assoc.
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