View source for Barrington Tops National Park

{{Short description|National park in Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name            = Barrington Tops National Park
| photo           = Barrington Tops Nat'l Park view from T.L.jpg
| photo_caption   = Mt Carson (far right) and the surrounding ranges viewed from Thunderbolt's Lookout, Jan 2025
| photo_alt       = 
| iucn_category   = Ib
| iucn_ref        = 
| coordinates     = {{coord|32|3|10|S|151|29|37|E|display=inline,title}}
| map             = New South Wales
| map_alt         = 
| map_width       = 200px
| relief          = 1
| label           = Barrington Tops National Park
| label_position  = 
| location        = [[New South Wales]]
| established     = {{start date|1969|12|3|df=y}}<ref name=oeh/>
| area_ha         = 
| area_km2        = 765.12
| area_ref        = <ref name=oeh>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkManagement.aspx?id=N0002|title=Barrington Tops National Park|work=[[Office of Environment & Heritage]]|access-date=11 September 2014}}</ref>
| visitation_num  = 
| visitation_year = 
| visitation_ref  = 
| website         = https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/barrington-tops-national-park
| nearest_city    = [[Gloucester, New South Wales|Gloucester]]
| nearest_town    =
| governing_body  = [[NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service]]
}}
The '''Barrington Tops National Park''' is a [[state park|protected]] [[national park]] in the [[Hunter Valley]] in [[New South Wales]], Australia. [[Government gazette|Gazetted]] in 1969, the {{convert|76512|ha|adj=on}} park is situated between [[Scone, New South Wales|Scone]], [[Singleton, New South Wales|Singleton]], [[Dungog]], [[Gloucester, New South Wales|Gloucester]] and [[East Gresford]].

The park is part of the Barrington Tops group [[World Heritage Site]] [[Gondwana Rainforests of Australia]] inscribed in 1986<ref name="ausgovdep">{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/world/gondwana/index.html |title=Gondwana Rainforests of Australia |access-date=10 September 2014|work=[[Department of the Environment (Australia)|Department of the Environment]]|publisher=[[Australian Government]] }}</ref> and added to the [[Australian National Heritage List]] in 2007.<ref name=anhl>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105135|title=Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, Lismore, NSW, Australia|work=Australian Heritage Database: [[Department of the Environment (Australia)|Department of the Environment]]|date=2014|access-date=10 September 2014|publisher=[[Australian Government]]}}</ref>

It is also part of the [[Barrington Tops]] and Gloucester Tops [[Important Bird Area]].<ref name=iba>{{cite web |url=http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm |title=IBA: Barrington Tops & Gloucester Tops |access-date=19 May 2011 |work=Birdata |publisher=Birds Australia |archive-date=22 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722071823/http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Environment==

===Geology===
[[Barrington Tops]] is part of the [[Mount Royal Range]], a spur of the [[Great Dividing Range]]. Barrington Tops is a [[plateau]] between two of the large peaks in the range. The park is believed to be an extinct volcano and the mountain ranges are made up of a mixture of sedimentary rocks with a granite top. Erosion has weathered the granite and rounded granite boulders can be seen in some areas of the park. Estimates put the age of the rock at 300 to 400 million years, well before Australia separated from [[Gondwana]].

===Climate===
[[File:barrington river.jpg|thumb|right|[[Barrington River (Australia)|Barrington River]]]]
The climate varies from temperate on the lower altitudes to subalpine at highest elevations. A record low of {{Convert|-17|°C|°F|0|lk=on}} has been registered at {{Convert|1500|m|ft|abbr=on}} [[above mean sea level]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Zoete |first1=Toivo |year=2000 |title=Vegetation survey of the Barrington Tops and Mount Royal National Parks for use in fire management |journal=Cunninghamia |volume=6 |issue=3 |pages=511–578 |url=https://d-nb.info/1081087935/34 }}</ref> Rainfalls fluctuate between {{Convert|750|mm|in|0}} in the northwest to more than {{Convert|2000|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} in the southeast.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Dodson |first1=J R |last2=Myers |first2=C A |title=Vegetation and Modern Pollen Rain From the Barrington Tops and Upper Hunter River Regions of New South Wales |journal=[[Australian Journal of Botany]]|date=1986 |volume=34 |issue=3 |pages=293–304 |id={{INIST|8125112}} |doi=10.1071/BT9860293 }}</ref>

===Flora===
The ecology of the national park varies from [[Subtropics|subtropical]] [[rainforest]]s in the gullies to [[subalpine]] and [[Alpine climate|alpine]] regions on the mountain peaks. Snow usually falls on the mountain peaks every year and occasionally snows enough to close roads. Rainfall can exceed {{Convert|1500|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} per annum.

A large variety of plants and animals reside in the park and the steepness of the terrain ensures that they are not disturbed by humans. Plant life includes a large variety of [[eucalypt]] trees including [[Eucalyptus pauciflora|snow gums]], subtropical and [[temperate]] [[rainforest]] trees like [[Nothofagus moorei|Antarctic beech]], [[Cyatheales|tree ferns]], a large variety of [[moss]]es and [[fern]]s and a wide range of edible plants such as the native raspberry, the native cherry and the [[Syzygium luehmannii|lilli pilli]].

===Fauna===
[[File:echidna gravel.jpg|right|thumb|An [[echidna]] on a walking trail]]
The remoteness and inaccessibility of a large part of the park has allowed some of the more sensitive animals to remain largely undisturbed. A large number of fauna have been catalogued in the park. Some of the more common animals include: [[Barking owl|barking]] and [[greater sooty owl|sooty owls]], [[eastern grey kangaroo]]s, [[frog]]s, [[pademelon]]s, [[cockatoo]]s, [[rosella]]s, [[kookaburra]]s, [[bat]]s and [[echidna]]s.  It supports a globally important population of [[rufous scrub-bird]]s, as well as [[flame robin]]s, [[pale-yellow robin]]s, [[paradise riflebird]]s, [[green catbird]]s, [[regent bowerbird]]s and [[Australian logrunner]]s.<ref name=iba/>

Animals such as [[quoll]]s, [[List of rodents of Australia|native rodents]] and [[platypus]] are reclusive, but may be seen. Not all of the animals in the park are desirable; introduced species such as [[Brumby|feral horses]], [[List of invasive species in Australia|deer]], [[Feral pig|feral pigs]], [[Feral goats in Australia|feral goats]], [[Red foxes in Australia|foxes]], and [[Cats in Australia|feral cats]] are planned to be removed.<ref>{{Cite web|first1=Frances|last1=Thompson|first2=Donna|last2=Sharpe|date=2011-12-29|title=Ferals under fire in Barrington Tops|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/441321/ferals-under-fire-in-barrington-tops/|access-date=2021-02-18|website=[[Newcastle Herald]]|language=en-AU}}</ref>

==History==
The [[traditional owners]] of the area are [[Aboriginal Australian|Aboriginal Australian peoples]], including the [[Gringai]] people (southern valleys), the [[Wonnarua|Wonnarua people]] (western country), and the [[Worimi]] and [[Birpai people]] (the eastern side).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHeritage.aspx?id=N0002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807005627/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHeritage.aspx?id=N0002 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 August 2008 |title=Aboriginal associations with the park area |work=Barrington Tops National Park |publisher=NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service |access-date=13 May 2012 }}</ref>

===National Park and World Heritage Area===
In 1969 the area between [[Mount Barrington]], [[Mount Royal Range|Mount Royal]] and the [[Gloucester Tops]] was declared the Barrington Tops National Park. In 1986 it was listed as a [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage Area]] and subsequently a [[Wilderness Area]]. Some of the rivers flowing through the Barrington range have been classed as [[wild river]]s meaning they are exceptionally pure and unpolluted. The highest peak is Brumlow Top which rises to a height of {{Convert|1586|m|ft|0}}.

===Aircraft crashes===
A number of aircraft have crashed in and around the Barrington Tops; Aeroplane Hill is named after one of the crashes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gloucesteradvocate.com.au/story/5823242/interesting-facts-about-barrington-tops/|title=Interesting facts about Barrington Tops|date=25 December 2018|website=[[Gloucester Advocate]]|access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref> The altitude, frequent fog and cloud, storms and cold weather (causing icing) make this area potentially hazardous to aircraft. One article refers to the "Devil's Triangle".
*16 April 1945 – [[De Havilland Mosquito]] A52-70. Wreckage found January 1946 in the national park.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/crashnsw.htm |title=Military Aircraft Crashes in NSW during WW2 years |work=Peter Dunn's Australia at War |access-date=11 January 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210141926/http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/crashnsw.htm| archive-date=10 December 2006 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.adf-serials.com/2a52.shtml |title=RAAF A52 De Havilland DH-98 Mosquito |work=ADF Aircraft Serial Numbers |access-date=11 January 2007}}</ref> The propeller, ailerons and machine gun were on display at the Barrington Tops Guest House.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/docs/aircraftlosses_nsw.pdf |title=Plane Sailing: The archaeology of aircraft losses over water in New South Wales, Australia |author=Smith, Tim  |access-date=11 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930013238/http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/docs/aircraftlosses_nsw.pdf |archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref>
*2 September 1948 – Australian National Airlines [[Douglas DC-3]] VH-ANK. 13 killed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/ema/emadisasters.nsf/83edbd0553620d8cca256d09001fc8fd/f5c7b20591ec135eca256d3300057ea6?OpenDocument |title=Barrington Tops, NSW: Aircraft Crash |work=Emergency Management Australia National Disasters Database |access-date=10 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927030228/http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/ema/emadisasters.nsf/83edbd0553620d8cca256d09001fc8fd/f5c7b20591ec135eca256d3300057ea6?OpenDocument |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19480902-0&lang=en |title=ASN Aircraft accident description Douglas C-47A-50-DL VH-ANK – Quirindi, NSW |work=[[Aviation Safety Network]]|access-date=10 January 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austa2/ANA%20Fleet/VH-ANK.html |title=VH-ANK |work=Ed Coates' Civil Aircraft Photograph Collection |access-date=11 January 2007}}</ref>
*25 September 1967 – [[Royal Australian Air Force|RAAF]] [[Dassault Mirage III|Mirage III-O A3-52]]. Pilot ejected safely.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jt97mwI_N38C&q=mirage+barrington+tops&pg=PA143|title=Brotherhood of Airmen: The Men and Women of the RAAF in Action, 1914-Today|author=Wilson, David|date=January 2005|isbn=9781741151756|access-date=28 June 2008}}</ref><ref name="smh1">{{Cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/28/1080412235860.html |title=Off the radar |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=29 March 2004|access-date=10 January 2007}}</ref> The ejection seat was later recovered and is on display at [[Fighter World]] aviation heritage centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adf-serials.com.au/3a3.htm|title=Mirage IIO/D|work=ADF Serials|access-date=2 June 2021|archive-date=19 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120800/http://www.adf-serials.com.au/3a3.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*14 September 1969 – [[Lockheed Hudson]] VH-SML crashed in the foothills. 3 killed.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/ozcrashes/nsw112.htm |title=Crash of a Lockheed Hudson foothills of Barrington Ranges, NSW on 14 September 1954 |work=Peter Dunn's Australia at War |access-date=11 January 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070222123841/http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/ozcrashes/nsw112.htm| archive-date= 22 February 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lockheed.adastron.com/hudson/vh-sml.htm |title=VH-SML |work=The Lockheed File |access-date=11 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060517175619/http://www.lockheed.adastron.com/hudson/vh-sml.htm |archive-date=17 May 2006}}</ref>
*9 August 1981 – [[Cessna 210]] [[VH-MDX]]. 5 killed, multiple searches have not found wreckage or bodies.<ref name="smh1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ema.gov.au/ema/emadisasters.nsf/0/532daa5ab077a4e7ca256d3300058322?OpenDocument |title=Barrington Tops, NSW: Light Aircraft Crash in Storm |work=Emergency Management Australia National Disasters Database |access-date=10 January 2007 }}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (password protected Australian Government site)</ref>
*3 August 1987 – [[Aermacchi MB-326]]H A7-079 (built as CA30-79). Crew ejected. Wreckage located by bushwalkers 28 April 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.adf-serials.com/research/aircrew-eject.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051025134244/http://www.adf-serials.com/research/aircrew-eject.pdf |archive-date=2005-10-25 |url-status=live |author=((Crawley, CMDR John, RAN (Rtd))) |title=A Chronological History of Ejections from ADF Aircraft |access-date=11 January 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnapg.org/aermacchimb326.htm |title=Aermacchi MB326 |work=Clyde North Aeronautical Preservation Group |access-date=11 January 2007 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070506064441/http://www.cnapg.org/aermacchimb326.htm |archive-date=6 May 2007  }}</ref> One crew member was rescued from a tree after three hours.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Country-By-Country/Australia.htm|title=Chronological Listing of Australian RAAF & RAN Ejections|work=Project Get Out and Walk|access-date=11 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218194225/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Country-By-Country/Australia.htm|archive-date=18 February 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Barrington Guest House===
[[File:Barrington River 1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Barrington River (Australia)|Barrington River]]]]

The Barrington Guest House was built from 1925 on the upper [[Williams River (New South Wales)|Williams River]] near Barrington Tops by Norman T. McLeod, licensee of the Royal Hotel in Dungog, using timber cut and milled from the property. It stood on land consisting of {{Convert|10.5|ha|acre}} of forest surrounded by National and State Parks and was officially opened in 1930 by Leader of the [[National Party of Australia|Country Party]] [[Earle Page]], with some 200 guests attending.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hartley |first1=Dulcie |title=Barrington Tops: a vision splendid |date=1993 |publisher=D. Hartley |isbn=978-0-646-15795-5 |oclc=38342669 }}{{pn|date=August 2021}}</ref>

The guest house was a popular venue for people to stay in the park, until it burned down in a fire at 11pm on 24 September 2006 due to an electrical fault.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20471584-5006784,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121215193757/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20471584-5006784,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 December 2012|title=Fire destroys historic guesthouse|work=[[The Australian]]|date=25 September 2006|access-date=11 January 2007}}</ref> The fire was not regarded as suspicious.<ref>{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|448958194}} |title=NSW: Barrington Guest House Destroyed by Fire |work=AAP General News Wire |date=25 September 2006 }}</ref> It was undergoing modernisation under new ownership at the time of the fire. There are plans to rebuild, but no significant process has been made, and only part of the old chimney remains on the site.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-07-29|title=Guest house to be replaced with building of similar character|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-07-30/guest-house-to-be-replaced-with-building-of/2516572|access-date=2021-04-23|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}}</ref> The guest house has undergone many different owners in its history. Mattara Investments, trading as Barrington Guest House, bought the premises in 1976. Due to business troubles however, it was placed into voluntary administration in 2000, after which the business was taken over by David and Susan Eissa in February 2002.<ref>{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|364744038}} |last1=Scanlon |first1=Mike |title=SNAP SHOT Barrington Guest House |work=Herald |date=11 January 2003 |page=27 }}</ref> Only one more owner has been known since (according to the now defunct website); it was purchased in January 2004 by Natalie Day and Tony Horley.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2006-08-21|title=Our History|url=http://www.barringtonguesthouse.com.au/cgi-bin/engine.pl?Page=page.html&Rec=14|access-date=2021-04-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821020203/http://www.barringtonguesthouse.com.au/cgi-bin/engine.pl?Page=page.html&Rec=14|archive-date=21 August 2006}}</ref>  In April 2024, the site was purchased by a group of previous guests and owners who are making it safe to enable future visitation (2025).

==Access==
Barrington Tops is a popular weekend destination from Sydney and Newcastle. Numerous walking trails and camping grounds are scattered throughout the park. The park also contains well marked and well-maintained gravel roads as well as specific [[Four-wheel drive|4WD]] tracks into less travelled areas. General sightseeing can be accomplished in a non-offroad vehicle. As well as camping facilities, the nearby towns of [[Gloucester, New South Wales|Gloucester]] and [[Dungog]] have many places to stay.  The park is maintained by the [[NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service]] and rangers patrol the park daily.

==See also==
{{stack|{{portal|New South Wales|Environment|Mountains}}}}
* [[Barrington Tops State Conservation Area]]
* [[Careys Peak]]
* {{section link|List of mountains in Australia|New South Wales}}
* [[Protected areas of New South Wales]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|33em}}

== External links ==
{{Wikivoyage|Barrington Tops National Park}}
{{Commons category|Barrington Tops National Park}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ieo/Manning/maplg.htm|title=Manning River catchments|format=map|work=[[Office of Environment & Heritage]]|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080724195011/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHome.aspx?id=N0002 NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service]}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20051108100529/http://www.barringtons.com.au/ Barrington Tops Tourism Website]}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060821015717/http://www.barringtonguesthouse.com.au/ Barrington Guest House]}}

{{National Parks of New South Wales}}
{{New South Wales mountains |state=autocollapse}}
{{Suburbs of Dungog Shire}}
{{Hunter Region places and items of interest}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:National parks of the Hunter Region]]
[[Category:Volcanoes of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Dungog Shire]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1969]]
[[Category:Gondwana Rainforests of Australia]]
[[Category:Forests of New South Wales]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Plateaus of Australia]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of New South Wales|Barrington Tops]]
[[Category:Hunter River (New South Wales)]]
[[Category:Sclerophyll forests]]